Plasma Glycosaminoglycan Profiles in Systemic Sclerosis: Associations with MMP-3, MMP-10, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TGF-Beta

Table 2

Correlation analysis between plasma GAGs, TGF-β, and MMP-3, MMP-10, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 (Pearson’s correlation coefficients, ).

Parameter	GAGs, ()	TGF-β, ()
TGF-β	-0.47 (0.015)	—
MMP-3	-0.24 (NS)	0.005 (NS)
MMP-10	-0.001 (NS)	-0.12 (NS)
TIMP-1	0.18 (NS)	-0.46 (0.015)
TIMP-2	0.38 (0.046)	-0.36 (0.044)

GAGs: glycosaminoglycans; MMP: matrix metalloproteinase; NS: not significant (); TIMP: tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase; TGF-β: transforming growth factor beta.