P- 80 differential expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7 in chronic liver diseases

Introduction and Objectives: We recently published that in the serum of patients with chronic Hepatitis C, there are high concentrations of inactive Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP). However, the MMP has not been studied in other liver diseases. This study aimed to evaluate serum concentrations of MMP-7 in different hepatic etiologies and according to fibrosis stage. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional and multicenter study was carried out, including subjects with alcoholism (WHO criteria), without (OH) and with liver injury (cirrhosis, CiOH); diagnosed by clinical, biochemical data, non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) and chronic Hepatitis C (CHC). Transitional elastography (Fibroscan) was performed in NAFLD and CHC, considering mild fibrosis (MF: F0, F1, F2) and advanced fibrosis (AF: F3, F4). As controls, subjects without alcohol consumption (CT) were recruited. For the quantification of MMP-7, Multiplex-MERCK© was used. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V.22 using Mann Whitney U, p<0.05. Results: It included 99 subjects (OH); 45 (CiOH); 48 (CHC, FL); 54 (CHC, FA); 27 (NAFLD, FL); 36 (NAFLD, AF) and 131 CT. MMP-7 was found to be elevated in CHC (FL and FA) vs. CT; and decreased in OH, CiOH, NAFLD (FL and FA) vs. CT, plus there are significant differences between all etiologies, p<0.001. MMP-7 is a matrilysin that degrades extracellular matrix products (proteoglycans); it increases significantly in subjects with CHC compared to CT, while in other pathologies with stages, even in advanced fibrosis, the levels are decreased compared to CT. Conclusions: The increased MMP-7 in serum of chronic Hepatitis C and decrease in alcoholism and non-alcoholic fatty liver patients suggests that, according to the etiology, the levels can be useful to make a differential diagnosis. We considered that it is a potential non-invasive biomarker. Funding: This work was partially financed by CONACyT SALUD-2016-272579 and PAPIIT- UNAM TA200515.