Inflammations mediators and circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinases: Biomarkers of diabetes in Tunisians metabolic syndrome patients

• Metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes mellitus are related with a pro-inflammatory state and the extracellular matrix degradation.
• The control of the inflammatory status and matrix metalloproteinases levels in metabolic syndrome patients and especially those diabetics can be of great help for diagnosis and prognostic of cardiovascular disease.

AimsThis study investigates the relationships between matrix metalloproteinases, inflammations mediators and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Tunisians metabolic syndrome (Mets) patients.MethodsThe study has included 239 MetS patients and 247 controls. Mets was defined according to the NCEP–ATPIII report. Mets patients were also divided into two categories: 29 MetS non-diabetics and 210 MetS diabetics. Dysglycemia markers, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and White Blood Cells (WBC) counts were determined in patients and controls.ResultsIn our study, the level of inflammatory markers WBC, TNF-α and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-8 and MMP-9) were significantly higher in diabetic patients with MetS, as compared with non-diabetic MetS patients. Inflammation mediators and MMP-9 were significantly associated with many clinical characteristics of MetS. The use of ROC “Receiver Operating Characteristic” analysis revealed the impact of TNF alpha on diabetes patients with MetS. In fact TNF alpha was found as a sensitive parameter in these patients with a sensitivity of 85%.ConclusionInflammation, matrix metalloproteinases and dysglycemia markers are not expressed in isolation but rather concurrently and are continuously interacting with each other, in MetS and diabetics patients. These markers fit with an early stage of cardiovascular disease (CVD); and measuring them could improve the risk evaluation, an early diagnosis, and the prognosis of CVD.