DOI: 10.4103/jpdtsm.jpdtsm_60_26 ISSN: 2949-6594

Matrix Metalloproteinase-12 Gene Expression in Different Phenotypes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Comparison with Healthy Individuals Using Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Naghmeh Bahrami, Mahta Malek, Masoume Avateffazeli, Somayeh Lookzadeh, Farnoosh Mohammadi, Tayebeh Yosefzad, Sadafsadat Shamszadeh, Elahe Mandegari, Saba Salehzadeh Zare, Mehdi Kazempour Dizaji, Abdolreza Mohamadnia
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Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide and is characterized by chronic inflammation, progressive airflow limitation, and lung tissue destruction. Matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) contributes to COPD pathogenesis through extracellular matrix degradation and emphysema development. This study evaluated MMP-12 gene expression in COPD phenotypes, including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and small airway disease, compared with healthy controls using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This case–control study included 120 participants: patients with emphysema ( n = 30), chronic bronchitis ( n = 30), small airway disease ( n = 30), and healthy controls ( n = 30). Total ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted from peripheral blood samples, complementary deoxyribonucleic acid was synthesized, and MMP-12 messenger RNA expression was quantified by real-time PCR using 18S ribosomal RNA as the internal reference gene. Relative expression was calculated using the 2 −ΔΔCt method. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics version 20.

RESULTS:

MMP-12 expression differed significantly among the study groups ( P < 0.001). MMP-12 upregulation was observed in 86.7% (26/30) of the emphysema group, 70.0% (21/30) of the chronic bronchitis group, 66.7% (20/30) of the small airway disease group, and 26.7% (8/30) of healthy controls. Relative expression was highest in emphysema (1.8-fold), followed by chronic bronchitis (1.6-fold) and small airway disease (1.4-fold).

CONCLUSIONS:

Peripheral blood MMP-12 gene expression is upregulated in COPD and varies across COPD phenotypes. The highest expression in emphysema supports the role of MMP-12 in protease–antiprotease imbalance and extracellular matrix degradation. MMP-12 may be considered a potential molecular biomarker for COPD phenotype stratification and a promising therapeutic target.

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