Different circulating metalloproteinases profiles in women with migraine with and without aura

BackgroundWe compared the circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2, and MMP-9/TIMP-1 and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratios in migraine patients without aura (MWA) and in migraine patients with aura (MA) with those found in healthy subjects (controls).MethodsWe studied 80 migraine (40 MWA and 40 MA) women and 40 controls. Pro-MMP-2 levels were determined by zymography and MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 levels were determined by ELISA.ResultsWhile we found similar TIMP-2 levels, higher plasma pro-MMP-2 and pro-MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratios were found in MWA and MA patients compared with controls (P < 0.05). Higher TIMP-1 levels and lower MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios were found in MA, but not in MWA, patients compared with controls (P < 0.05). We found no significant differences when patients without headache attack were compared with patients having a headache attack (all P < 0.05).ConclusionsWe showed an increased net MMP-2 activity in MWA and MA. The increased MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in MWA patients contrast with the lower MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in MA patients and may reflect pathophysiological differences between these conditions.