ASSESSMENT OF SERUM MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES MMP-2 AND MMP-9 AFTER HUMAN LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: INCREASED SERUM MMP-9 LEVEL IN ACUTE REJECTION

Abstract

Patients with acute allograft rejection have elevated serum levels of MMP-9 1 week after OLT, which was most likely derived from inflammatory cells. An increased MMP-2 serum level and liver tissue content was found in patients with cirrhosis, which decreased after OLT. These observations indicate active involvement of MMP-2 and -9 in end-stage liver disease and OLT.