Do matricellular proteins and matrix metalloproteinases mark the inflammatory and fibrotic response in human cardiac allograft rejection?
Out of 15 matrix-related proteins, we identified synd-1 and MMP-9 intragraft transcript levels of as strong predictors of human CAR. In addition, a multitude of non-structural matrix-related proteins closely associate with collagen expression in the transplanted heart. Therefore, we are convinced that these findings deserve further investigation and are likely to be of clinical value to prevent human CAR.
The results suggest that variants at the B2AR locus may play a role in the pathophysiology of hypertension in this population.