Association between Circulating Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D-3 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) levels increase progressively starting from early diabetic kidney disease (DKD) stages. Vitamin D-3 (vitD(3)) deficit is associated with a higher risk of diabetic microangiopathy. Reduced MMP-10 expression has been observed after exposure to vitD(3). Aim: to assess how vitD(3) status is related to MMP-10 levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: 256 patients with T2D were included in this cross-sectional study. Demographic, clinical and serum MMP-10 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 (25(OH)D-3) levels were collected from each patient. The association between MMP-10 and (25(OH)D-3) levels was assessed using a correlation analysis and fitting a multivariate linear regression model. Results: Serum MMP-10 levels were inversely correlated with circulating 25(OH)D-3 (rho = -0.25; p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis this correlation was significant in patients with DKD (rho = -0.28; p = 0.001) and in subjects with vitD(3) deficit (rho = -0.24; p = 0.005). In the regression model adjusted for kidney function, body adiposity, smoking and vitD supplementation MMP-10 levels were 68.7 pg/mL lower in patients with 25(OH)D-3 > 20 ng/mL, with respect to <= 20 ng/mL (p = 0.006). Conclusions: vitD(3) repletion status is an independent predictor of MMP-10 levels in T2D patients. Perhaps, high 25(OH)D-3 values should be targeted in these patients in order to prevent vascular complications.