Snitker S, Xie K, Ryan KA, Yu D, Shuldiner AR, Mitchell BD, Gong DW. Correlation of circulating MMP-9 with white blood cell count in humans: effect of smoking.
PLoS One 2013;
8:e66277. [PMID:
23825535 PMCID:
PMC3692499 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0066277]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is an emerging biomarker for several disease conditions, where white blood cell (WBC) count is also elevated. In this study, we examined the relationship between MMP-9 and WBC levels in apparently healthy smoking and non-smoking human subjects.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the relationship of serum MMP-9 with WBC in 383 men and 356 women. Next, we divided the male population (women do not smoke in this population) into three groups: never (n = 243), current (n = 76) and former (n = 64) smokers and compared the group differences in MMP-9 and WBC levels and their correlations within each group.
Results
Circulating MMP-9 and WBC count are significantly correlated in men (R2 = 0.13, p<0.001) and women (R2 = 0.19, p<0.001). After stratification by smoking status, MMP-9 level was significantly higher in current smokers (mean ± SE; 663.3±43.4 ng/ml), compared to never (529.7±20.6) and former smokers (568±39.3). WBC count was changed in a similar pattern. Meanwhile, the relationship became stronger in current smokers with increased correlation coefficient of r = 0.45 or R2 = 0.21 (p<0.001) and steeper slope of ß = 1.16±0.30 (p<0.001) in current smokers, compared to r = 0.26 or R2 = 0.07 (p<0.001) and ß = 0.34±0.10 (p<0.001) in never smokers.
Conclusions
WBC count accounts for 13% and 19% of MMP-9 variance in men and women, respectively. In non-smoking men, WBC count accounts for 7% of MMP-9 variance, but in smoking subjects, it accounts for up to 21% of MMP-9 variance. Thus, we have discovered a previously unrecognized correlation between the circulating MMP-9 and WBC levels in humans.
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