Lercanidipine Reduces Matrix Metalloproteinase-9
Marcio L.L. Martinez, Pharm D,* Lı´via F. Lopes,* Eduardo B. Coelho, MD, PhD,†
Fernando Nobre, MD, PhD,† Joa˜o B. T. Rocha, PhD,‡ Raquel F. Gerlach, DDS, PhD,§
Key Words: calcium channel blockers, hypertension, lercanidipine,
Abstract: Increased levels of metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 have been
matrix metalloproteinases, oxidative stress
shown in hypertensive patients. Lercanidipine is a calcium channelblocker with antioxidant actions. We examined whether lercanidipine
(J Cardiovasc Pharmacol TM 2006;47:117–122)
produces antioxidant effects and reduces MMP-9 activity in hy-pertensive patients in a placebo-controlled, crossover, single-blindeddesign study including 18 healthy volunteers (control group), and 14hypertensive patients without (N = 7) or with (N = 7) diabetes
Hypertension is a major risk factor for the development of
atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. When
mellitus. Hypertensive patients were randomized to treatment with
hypertension and diabetes mellitus are combined, the cardio-
placebo (15 days) or lercanidipine 20 mg/d (15 days). Arterial blood
vascular risk increases to very high levels1 and complex
pressure was evaluated with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
changes entailing accelerated vascular remodeling take place.2
Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBA-RS) levels were
Lately, a group of zinc-dependent endopeptidases called matrix
measured to assess oxidative stress, and plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9
metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been implicated in the
were assayed by gel zymography before and after treatment with
vascular remodeling underlying the pathogenesis of athero-
placebo or lercanidipine. Plasma concentrations of tissue inhibitor of
sclerosis.3 MMPs have been classically recognized as a group
metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 were measured by ELISA. Lercanidi-
of enzymes involved in both physiological and pathologic
pine reduced mean arterial pressure by 7% in hypertensive patients
degradation of extracellular matrix components, and increased
without diabetes (P , 0.05), but not in hypertensive patients with
MMP expression and activity may result in inappropriate
diabetes. It significantly decreased plasma TBA-RS levels in hy-
cardiovascular remodeling and premature coronary athero-
pertensive patients without and with diabetes (95% confidence
sclerosis.3 Importantly, increased circulating levels of MMP-9
interval [CI], 226 to 246%, P = 0.048, and 222 to 233%, P =
have been described in patients with hypertension4,5 and in
0.036, respectively). In addition, lercanidipine decreased activated
type 2 diabetic patients.6 In addition, a recent study showed
MMP-9 in hypertensive patients without and with diabetes (95%
that circulating levels of MMP-9 can predict mortality in
CI, 219 to 247%, P = 0.047, and 280 to 296%, P = 0.010,
patients with coronary artery disease.7 Taken together, these
respectively). No effects were seen on MMP-2. No significant
findings are consistent with the notion that MMP-9 may play
differences or changes in plasma TIMP-1 concentrations were found.
a role in the pathophysiology of the cardiovascular changes
Therefore, we demonstrate for the first time that lercanidipine
associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and that
consistently decreased MMP-9 activity and reduced oxidative stress
circulating levels of MMP-9 may have prognostic value.4,7
in hypertensive patients, thus suggesting a mechanism probably
Lercanidipine is a vasoselective dihydropyridine cal-
involved in the pleotropic actions of lercanidipine.
cium channel blocker (CCB) used for the management ofhypertension.8 Besides reducing blood pressure, lercanidipinehas pleotropic actions that may significantly contribute to thebenefits that it produces in the therapy for hypertension. For
Received for publication May 26, 2005; accepted November 1, 2005.
example, lercanidipine produced significant antioxidant effects
From the *Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao
in patients with hypertension9,10 and in patients with combined
Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil; †Department of
hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2.11 Moreover, in-
Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo,Ribeirao Preto, Brazil; ‡Chemistry Department, Federal University of
cubation of endothelial cells with lercanidipine significantly
Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil; and §Department of Morphology,
reduced oxidized-LDL-induced intracellular reactive oxygen
Estomatology and Physiology, Dental School of Ribeirao Preto,
species formation.12 In addition, while the effects of CCB on
University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
MMP activity/expression are not clear,13 it is possible that
xa˜o de Aparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sa˜o
Paulo (FAPESP-Brazil), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientı´-
lercanidipine and other CCB with antioxidant effects reduce
fico e Tecnolo´gico (CNPq-Brazil) and Coordenadoria de Aperfeic
MMP activity/expression in patients with both hypertension
de Pessoal de Nı´vel Superior (CAPES-Brazil).
and diabetes mellitus. This suggestion is supported by ex-
Reprints: Jose Eduardo Tanus-Santos, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty
perimental evidence indicating that enhanced oxidative stress
of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto University of Sao Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes,
is a major factor modulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 expres-
3900 14049-900 Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil (e-mail: tanus@fmrp.usp.br).
Copyright Ó 2006 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
sion/activity14,15 and that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol ä Volume 47, Number 1, January 2006
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J Cardiovasc Pharmacol ä Volume 47, Number 1, January 2006
involved in vascular remodeling of hypertension via MMP
Measurement of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive
In this study, we hypothesized that hypertension is
To assess oxidative stress, TBA-RS were determined in
associated with increased oxidative stress and plasma MMP-9
triplicate plasma samples as previously described.17
activity, and that treatment of hypertensive patients withlercanidipine would produce antioxidant effects and reduce
plasma MMP-9 activity. Finally, we have also determined the
plasma concentrations of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases
(TIMP)-1 because TIMP-1 is a major regulator of MMP-9
To assess plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities, 10 mL
and 30 mL of each plasma sample were diluted in 190 mL andin 170 mL of sample buffer (2% SDS, 125 mM Tris-HCl; pH6.8, 10% glycerol, and 0.001% bromophenol blue), re-
spectively. Thereafter, 10 mL of each plasma solution were
loaded in each gel lane and gelatin zymography of MMP-2 andMMP-9 was performed as previously described.18–20 Gelati-
This study was approved by our institutional review
nolytic activities were assayed by densitometry using a Kodak
committee and each subject provided written informed consent.
Electrophoresis Documentation and Analysis System (EDAS)
We studied 18 normal healthy volunteers (control group), and
290 (Kodak, Rochester, NY). The pro and active forms of
14 patients with mild to moderate arterial hypertension with-
MMP-2 and MMP-9 were identified as bands at 72 and 67
out (N = 7; Hyp group) or with (N = 7; Hyp + DM group) type
KDa, and at 92 and 87 KDa, respectively. Finally, the
2 diabetes mellitus. Healthy volunteers were recruited from
individuals who performed the assays were blinded to the
general public whereas hypertensive patients were recruited
from our hospital hypertension clinic. All the subjects pro-vided a complete health history and underwent a physical
examination, and laboratory analysis to exclude individuals
with evidence of severe or secondary hypertension, other
The plasma concentrations of TIMP-1 were measured
concomitant cardiovascular diseases, respiratory, hepatic,
using a commercially available (Amersham Biosciences UK
renal, or hematological dysfunction.
Limited, Buckinghamshire, UK) enzyme-linked immunosor-bent assay (ELISA), which is based on a 2-site ÔsandwichÕ
format. The TIMP-1 assay recognizes both free TIMP-1 and
The study had a placebo-controlled, crossover, single-
TIMP-1 complexed with MMPs, and does not cross react with
blinded design. All hypertensive subjects had their antihyper-
tensive treatment changed to 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide POplus 5 mg of ramipril PO for a period of 15 days. Subjects with
both hypertension and diabetes mellitus were on oral hy-
The results are expressed as means 6 SEM. One-way
poglycemic therapy in addition to hydrochlorothiazide and
analysis of variance followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls
ramipril. Hypertensive subjects with or without diabetes were
test was used to analyze differences among groups. The
randomized to add placebo or lercanidipine (Asta Medica,
changes in 24h-SBP, 24h-DBP, TBA-RS, TIMP-1 and MMPs
Brazil) 20 mg/d, for 15 days. Thereafter they were crossed over
activities were analyzed using Student t test for paired data and
for a second period of 15 days of treatment with the same dose
Bonferroni correction. A probability value , 0.05 was con-
of lercanidipine or placebo. Normotensive healthy volunteers
sidered the minimum level of statistical significance.
Venous blood samples (10–15 mL) were collected into
tubes containing EDTA at baseline and after both treatments
for 15 days with lercanidipine or placebo. Healthy volunteers
were sampled at the same time intervals as hypertensive
Table 1 summarizes the basic characteristics of the study
patients. Plasma samples were stored at –70°C until assayed as
subjects. There were no significant differences in the age, body
mass index, serum creatinine and hemoglobin concentrationsamong groups. Whereas hypertensive patients presented higher
levels of total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides, blood pres-
An ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM,
sure, and HR compared with normotensive control subjects
SpaceLabs, Model 90207, USA) was used to measure 24
(all P , 0.05), no significant differences were observed when
hours systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure (24-hour
patients with hypertension were compared with patients with
SBP and 24-hDBP, respectively) and heart rate (HR) before
hypertension and diabetes mellitus, except for higher hemo-
and after treatment with placebo or lercanidipine. The ABPM
globin A1c levels in this last group of patients (P = 0.021).
was pre-set to record blood pressure every 15 minutes duringdaytime, and every 30 minutes during night-time. We used
average 24h-SBP and 24h-DBP values for the assessment of
Figure 1 shows that whereas lercanidipine 20 mg sig-
lercanidipine antihypertensive efficacy.
nificantly reduced 24 hours ambulatory average 24h-SBP and
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J Cardiovasc Pharmacol ä Volume 47, Number 1, January 2006
TABLE 1. Baseline Clinical and Laboratory Data from32 Volunteers: 18 Normotensives (Controls), 7 WithHypertension (Hyp), and 7 With Hypertension and DiabetesMellitus Type 2 (Hyp + DM)
BMI, Body mass index; HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP,
diastolic blood pressure; HR, heart rate.
Values are shown as mean 6 SEM. *P , 0.05 vs. Controls. †P , 0.05 vs. the other groups.
24h-DBP in patients with hypertension (N = 7, P = 0.041), noeffects were observed in patients with hypertension and di-abetes mellitus (N = 7; P . 0.05; Fig. 1). In addition, nosignificant changes were seen in heart rate (data not shown).
Changes in Thiobarbituric Acid ReactiveSpecies (TBA-RS) in Plasma
FIGURE 1. Average 24h-systolic and 24h-diastolic bloodpressure (24h-SBP and 24h-DBP, respectively) in normotensive
Figure 2 shows higher TBA-RS levels in hypertensive
(NT) volunteers, and after treatment with daily lercanidipine
patients compared with normotensive controls (P , 0.05). In
0 mg (placebo) or 20 mg in hypertensive (Hyp) or hypertensive
addition, treatment with lercanidipine significantly decreased
diabetic (Hyp + DM) patients. Values are the mean 6 SEM *P =
plasma TBA-RS levels in both patients with hypertension (P =
0.041 versus 0 mg, for Hyp group, by paired t test. #P = 0.020
0.048) and in patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus
and P = 0.017, versus (NT) control group by ANOVA, for Hyp
higher pro-MMP-9 values than normotensive controls (P =
Whereas the bands corresponding to pro-MMP-9,
0.047), lercanidipine did not affect the circulating levels of
activated MMP-9, and pro-MMP-2 were identified in gelatin
zymography, no band corresponding to active-MMP-2 was
Finally, whereas no significant differences were found in
detected (Fig. 3). Intra-assay and interassay coefficients of
pro-MMP-2 values of hypertensive patients (both sub-groups)
variation were less than 3.5%, and less than 9.0%, respectively.
compared with normotensive controls, lercanidipine produced
Figure 4 shows that patients with hypertension (with or
no significant decreases in pro-MMP-2 activities in hyper-
without diabetes mellitus) have higher mean values of ac-
tensive patients with or without diabetes mellitus (P . 0.05;
tivated MMP-9 than normotensive healthy volunteers (P =
Whereas no significant change in MMP-9 activity was
seen in normotensive healthy volunteers sampled at the sametime intervals as hypertensive patients (data not shown), treat-
ment with lercanidipine significantly reduced the values of
Figure 5 shows that whereas normotensive controls
active MMP-9 in both sub-groups of patients with hyperten-
tended to have higher plasma concentrations of TIMP-1 com-
sion (P = 0.047 and P = 0.010 for Hyp group and Hyp+DM
pared with hypertensive patients (P = 0.101), treatment with
group, respectively). It should be noted that this lercanidipine-
lercanidipine produced no effects in both patients with
induced effect was observed in every single patient. In
hypertension and in patients with hypertension and diabetes
addition, whereas patients with hypertension and diabetes have
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J Cardiovasc Pharmacol ä Volume 47, Number 1, January 2006
FIGURE 2. Thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBA-RS)concentrations in plasma measured as malondialdehyde(MDA) in normotensive (NT) volunteers, and after treatmentwith daily lercanidipine 0 mg (placebo) or 20 mg inhypertensive (Hyp) or hypertensive diabetic (Hyp + DM)patients. Values are the mean 6 SEM *P = 0.048 and P = 0.036,versus 0 mg, for Hyp group and Hyp+DM group, respectively,by paired t test. #P = 0.003 and P = 0.007, versus (NT) controlgroup by ANOVA, for Hyp and Hyp+DM groups, respectively.
In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that
a short-term treatment with lercanidipine consistently de-creased MMP-9 activity without affecting TIMP-1 concen-trations in both patients with hypertension and in patients withhypertension and diabetes mellitus. The decrease in MMP-9activity without significant changes in TIMP-1 (a major in-hibitor of MMP-9) suggests that treatment with lercanidipinereduced net MMP-9 activity in both groups of patients. Thislercanidipine-induced effect was associated with a significantreduction in oxidative stress in both groups of patients andmay shed some light on the possible mechanisms involved inthe pleotropic actions of this third-generation L-type CCB.21
FIGURE 4. Mean values of activated MMP-9, pro-MMP-9,and pro-MMP-2 activities in plasma of normotensive (NT)healthy volunteers (control group) and after treatmentwith daily lercanidipine 0 mg (placebo) or 20 mg inhypertensive (Hyp) or hypertensive diabetic (Hyp + DM)patients. Values are the mean 6 SEM *P = 0.047 andP = 0.010, versus 0 mg, for Hyp group and Hyp+DM group,respectively, by paired t test. #P = 0.022 and P = 0.047,
FIGURE 3. Representative zymogram of plasma samples
versus (NT) control group by ANOVA, for active MMP-9 and
showing pro-MMP-9, activated MMP-9, and pro-MMP-2
bands in normotensive healthy volunteers (NT) and aftertreatment with daily lercanidipine 0 mg (placebo) or 20 mg inhypertensive (Hyp) or hypertensive diabetic (Hyp + DM)patients. Copyright Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol ä Volume 47, Number 1, January 2006
levels should be determined as soon as possible aftersampling,28 and blood samples should be drawn from allgroups of subjects at the same time.
Hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus presented
increased MMP-9 activity and lower TIMP-1 concentrationswhen compared with healthy controls in the present study. These findings are similar to those previously shown in patientswith diabetes type 2 and treated hypertension, who had higherMMP-9 levels than healthy controls.6 Indeed, elevated plasmaconcentrations of MMP-9 were reported in diabetic patients,and there is increasing evidence supporting the idea that in-creased MMP-9 expression is associated with the cardiovas-cular complications of diabetes.29
Increased concentrations of ROS have been consistently
FIGURE 5. Mean values of TIMP-1 in plasma of normotensive
shown in both animal models of hypertension and diabetes,
(NT) healthy volunteers (control group) and after treatment
and in clinical hypertension and diabetes.30 In addition, it is
with daily lercanidipine 0 mg (placebo) or 20 mg in
now clear that enhanced oxidative stress is a major factor that
hypertensive (Hyp) or hypertensive diabetic (Hyp + DM)
modulates MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression/activity14,15 and
patients. Values are the mean 6 SEM.
that ROS are involved in vascular remodeling via MMPactivation.16 Therefore, antihypertensive drugs that could
Although the precise role of MMPs in the pathophys-
abrogate these mechanisms of disease progression as
iology of hypertension is not known at present, several ex-
a consequence of their pleotropic effects may prove to be
perimental studies have shown that hypertension is associated
superior than other antihypertensive drugs that can simply
with abnormal MMP activity and disturbances of extracellular
lower blood pressure. Our results strongly suggest that
matrix accumulation in the cardiovascular system.3,22,23 For
lercanidipine can produce such beneficial pleotropic effects.
example, increased transmural arterial pressure induced
We found that lercanidipine treatment decreased oxidative
MMP-2 and MMP-9.24 Moreover, vascular smooth muscle
stress in both groups of hypertensive patients. These results
cells exposed to mechanical stretch were shown to induce ROS
support previous data showing antioxidant effects of lercani-
formation thereby increasing the expression and the release of
dipine in patients with hypertension9,10 and in patients with
MMP-2.16 Whereas many laboratory experiments suggest that
combined hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2.11 Besides
increased MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities play a role in
producing antioxidant effects, our results show that lercani-
hypertension, previous clinical studies have shown higher
dipine treatment was associated with decreased values of
levels of MMP-94,5 and lower TIMP-125 concentrations in
active MMP-9 in both sub-groups of patients with hyperten-
hypertensive patients compared with controls. Our present
sion. Taken together, these results suggest that the antioxidant
results are in line with these recent studies4,5 showing
effects of lercanidipine can attenuate the increased MMP-9
increased plasma MMP-9 activity in patients with hyperten-
expression/activity in hypertensive patients with or without
sion. Importantly, the net level of MMP-9 activity depends on
diabetes mellitus. In addition, our results show that lercani-
the relative concentrations of the active enzyme and its specific
dipine treatment produced no significant reduction in MMP-2
tissue inhibitor (TIMP-1). In the present study, we found that
activity in hypertensive patients with or without diabetes
hypertensive patients presented higher MMP-9 activity and
mellitus. Although other CCBs such as felodipine, lacidipine
unchanged plasma concentrations of TIMP-1 when compared
and amlodipine have also shown antioxidant effects,13 and
with normotensive controls, thus suggesting increased net
amlodipine decreased MMP-2 expression in rat cardiac
MMP-9 activity in hypertensive that in normotensive subjects.
fibroblast,31 CCBs may produce differential pleotropic effects,
While these present findings are supported by previous clinical
and it remains to be determined whether these CCBs can affect
studies,4,5 lower MMP-9 levels were reported in hypertensive
MMP activity in hypertension and diabetes. Indeed, whereas
patients compared with normotensive controls.26 One possible
the responses to CCBs are largely attributed to their primary
explanation for this discrepancy is that MMP-9 levels were
mechanism of action, it is probable that their pleotropic actions
assessed by ELISA in that study.26 Moreover, TIMP-1
contribute to their clinical effects.13 Presently, it is not possible
concentrations were not measured in that study, thus
to choose which CCB produce the best pleotropic effects.
precluding the analysis of net MMP-9 activity.26 In the
Some limitations of our study should be taken into
present study, we have used gel zymography, which is
consideration. Firstly, the relatively small number of hyper-
a powerful tool because it allows both the active and the latent
tensive patients (N = 14) may have limited our conclusions.
forms of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 to be detected in
For example, lercanidipine treatment significantly reduced
concentrations as low as 1 nM.27 In addition to significant
24h-SBP and 24h-DBP in patients with hypertension.
methodological differences between studies, another explana-
Conversely, no such effects were observed in hypertensive
tion may be related to the instability of the MMP-9
patients with diabetes mellitus. However, the present study was
measurement over time.28 It has been shown that a sharp
not designed to address the antihypertensive effect of
decrease in the plasma levels of MMP-9 occurs during the first
lercanidipine, which has been previously demonstrated in
3 months of storage at –80°C.28 Therefore, plasma MMP-9
hypertensive patients with diabetes.32 Importantly, the main
Copyright Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol ä Volume 47, Number 1, January 2006
goal of the present study was to assess the effects of
11. Rachmani R, Levi Z, Zadok BS, et al. Losartan and lercanidipine attenuate
lercanidipine treatment on MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in
low-density lipoprotein oxidation in patients with hypertension and type2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, prospective crossover study. Clin
hypertensive patients, and lercanidipine treatment reduced the
values of active MMP-9 activity in every single patient en-
12. Cominacini L, Fratta Pasini A, Garbin U, et al. Antioxidant activity of different
rolled in the present study. Secondly, although our findings
dihydropyridines. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003;302:679–684.
provide some evidence for the mechanisms involved in the
13. Mason RP, Marche P, Hintze TH. Novel vascular biology of third-
pleotropic actions of lercanidipine, our results do not prove
generation L-type calcium channel antagonists: ancillary actions ofamlodipine. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2003;23:2155–2163.
that lercanidipine treatment can protect against the vascular
14. Van den Steen PE, Dubois B, Nelissen I, et al. Biochemistry and molecular
remodeling3 and cardiac fibrosis22 encountered in hypertensive
biology of gelatinase B or matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Crit Rev
patients. Moreover, we have not examined the effects of a chronic
Biochem Mol Biol. 2002;37:375–536.
treatment with lercanidipine. In this regard, a previous study
15. Nelson KK, Melendez JA. Mitochondrial redox control of matrix
metalloproteinases. Free Radic Biol Med. 2004;37:768–784.
showed that 6 months of treatment with felodipine raised
16. Grote K, Flach I, Luchtefeld M, et al. Mechanical stretch enhances mRNA
MMP-2 levels, whereas diltiazem produced no effects.33
expression and proenzyme release of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) via
Thirdly, although detection of TBA-RS is sensitive for the
NAD(P)H oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species. Circ Res. 2003;92:
measurement of oxidative stress, it is not specific.34 It remains,
however, one of the most widely used indicators of reactive
17. Souza-Costa DC, Zerbini T, Metzger IF, et al. l-Arginine attenuates acute
pulmonary embolism-induced oxidative stress and pulmonary hyperten-
oxygen species formation in vitro and in vivo.34 Finally, we
have examined the effects of lercanidipine treatment in hy-
18. Gerlach RF, Uzuelli JA, Souza-Tarla CD, et al. Effect of anticoagulants on
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In conclusion, our data show that lercanidipine treatment
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has antioxidant effects and decreases MMP-9 activity in
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metabolites of oxygen and nitrogen: in vitro and in vivo considerations.
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Questions & Answers About OCD Children and Adolescents What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting young people. OCD is an illness in which obsessions and/or compulsions arepresent. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, images or impulseswhich cause distress. Compulsions are behaviors or actionsper
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