Table 3.

Serum levels of MMPs and TIMPs in NASH patients by grade of histological characteristics compared with those in healthy controls

		MMP-1 (ng/mL)	MMP-2 (ng/mL)	MMP-9 (ng/mL)	TIMP-1 (ng/mL)	TIMP-2 (ng/mL)
Healthy controls		1.28±1.08	33.2±13.6	28.0±24.6	119.5±24.7	57.1±40.5
Steatosis	1	1.27±0.83	42.2±15.8	22.8±20.2	123.4±22.7	58.6±15.0
	2	1.71±1.93	37.5±18.3	32.0±27.6	135.9±34.3	57.0±15.9
	3	1.24±1.14	37.2±15.9	27.7±9.0	133.1±32.5	57.7±13.7
Inflammation	1	1.52±1.77	39.5±18.3	35.1±33.9	122.0±21.0	56.3±13.8
	2	1.67±1.68	35.8±13.6	23.1±13.6	131.7±22.8	54.4±9.7
	3	0.96±0.44	46.5±26.1	33.7±11.8	169.6±60.8	73.5±27.2
Ballooning	1	1.18±1.53	40.2±16.5	16.5±18.5	116.5±16.3	51.0±11.2
	2	1.39±0.92	43.0±21.7	21.7±15.0	141.2±42.5	63.2±19.5
Fibrosis	1	2.09±0.66*	36.7±15.5	38.6±29.1	124.7±16.8	53.4±9.8
	2	0.85±0.48	29.1±4.8	26.8±21.1	126.9±32.8	55.3±11.3
	3	0.64±0.20	43.2±6.8	14.6±3.7	120.8±14.2	50.5±13.3
	4	0.80±0.40	56.5±23.9†	18.0±8.4	165.6±42.8†	74.1±21.3

Values indicate mean ± standard deviation (SD).

MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; TIMP, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase; NASH, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Significant difference between serum levels of MMPs/TIMPs in NASH patients vs. those in healthy controls: ^*P <0.05, ^†P <0.01.