The decrease of serum MMP-2 activity corresponds to alcoholic cirrhosis stage.

Because of numerous limitations for liver biopsy, a noninvasive marker of liver cirrhosis is sought. Promising indicators seem to be matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are responsible for degradation of extracellular matrix. The aim of the study was to evaluate the gelatinase activities (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in patients with different stages of alcoholic cirrhosis.

Erythropoietin inhibits liver gelatinases during galactosamine-induced hepatic damage in rats.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 (gelatinases) participate in extracellular protein remodeling. Moreover, they are involved in the development of hepatic fibrosis. The goal of this study was to evaluate liver gelatinase activities after erythropoietin (Epo) treatment (1U/dose, sc) in experimentally damaged livers of rats treated with D-galactosamine (Gal, 800 mg/kg/dose, ip).

Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in various rat tissues after carbon tetrachloride intoxication.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the possible relationship between the activity of three different antioxidant enzymes--peroxidase superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase--and carbon tetrachloride-induced injury.

Methods: Male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were used in the experiments. Rats of the experimental groups were given carbon tetrachloride 0.

The influence of hypomagnesemia on erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme defence system in mice.

The effect of magnesium deficiency on antioxidant defence system was studied in RBC of mice suffering from hypomagnesemia. The animals were kept for 8, 15 and 22 days on magnesium-deficient diet with consequent reduction of magnesium level in plasma by 38% at the first 8 days and by 64% after 22 days of experiment. The activities of the most important antioxidant enzymes, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutahione S-transferase were assayed in hemolysates.