Background

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) have been linked to the pathobiology of asthma and MMP-10 is thought to contribute to the development of airway remodelling. The aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal relationship between MMP-10, asthma biomarkers and clinical outcomes in atopic asthmatics.

Methods

A total of 159 non-smoking asthmatics (age 18-64 years), with verified aeroallergen sensitization, and who were on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and antileucotrienes (LTRA), were followed-up over 12 months in a post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial (NOAK). Correlations between changes in plasma MMP-10 (?) and changes in type-2 biomarkers total IgE, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), the non-type 2 biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP), and the clinical asthma outcomes lung function (FEV₁) and asthma control (ACQ) were assessed (Spearman Rank). Furthermore, correlations between ?MMP-10 and age, sex, body mass index, mean daily ICS dose and sum of months on LTRA were determined.

Results

?MMP-10 did not correlate with individual characteristics or asthma medication but positive significant correlations were observed between ?MMP-10 and ?FeNO (rho=0.297, p<0.001), ?total IgE (rho=0.215, p=0.007), ?CRP (rho=0.249, p=0.002) and ?ACQ (rho=0.182, p=0.026), but not to ?ECP (rho=0.104, p=0.113), whereas a negative correlation with ?FEV₁ was seen (rho=-0.275, p<0.001).

Conclusion

In this cohort of atopic asthmatics, changes in plasma MMP-10 over one year were correlated with changes in both type-2 and non-type-2 biomarkers as well as important clinical asthma outcomes. These findings indicate the potential role of MMP-10 as a systemic biomarker with multiple signalling.