Correlations Between MMPs and TIMPs Levels in Aqueous Humor from High Myopia and Cataract Patients

ABSTRACTPurpose: To study the relationships between matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, MMP-3, and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3 aqueous humor levels in patients with high myopia or cataract.Materials and Methods: MMPs and TIMPs protein levels in 65 aqueous humor samples collected from patients with high myopia or cataract during cataract or clear lens extraction surgery were measured with the Luminex xMAP Technology. The relationship between MMPs and TIMPs levels was analyzed with Spearman’s correlation test.Results: MMP-2 levels, but not MMP-3 levels, were increased in the aqueous humor from high-myopia patients. Levels of TIMP-1, -2, and -3 were positively and very significantly correlated with the MMP-2 levels (TIMP-1: r=0.626, p 0.05; TIMP-3: r = 0.127, p > 0.05) and TIMP-1 levels only marginall...