To get reference values, the determinations were done on samples of healthy blood donors (n = 100). In univariate analyses, the patients had higher MMP-8 (P < 0.001), TIMP-1 (P = 0.045), and MMP-8/TIMP-1 (P < 0.001), and lower MPO (P < 0.001) when compared with the blood donors. All three subgroups had higher MMP-8 (P < 0.001) and MMP-8/TIMP-1 (P < 0.001), and lower MPO (P < 0.01,

except AOD) levels when compared with the references. In multiple logistic regression analyses, the male gender (P < 0.01), age (P < 0.001), Dasatinib research buy elevated MMP-8 (P < 0.001) and decreased MPO (P < 0.001) concentrations associated significantly with the risk for arterial disease, and provided an area under curve (AUC) of 0.97 in the Receiver operating characteristics analyses. In multiple linear regression analyses, HNE correlated with both MMP-8 (P < 0.001) and MPO (P = 0.008) concentrations. Combination of high MMP-8 and low MPO level in serum eventually reflecting selectively modified

neutrophil degranulation may indicate increased risk for arterial disease. Arterial diseases are a heterogeneous group of diseases with a wide range of clinical presentations and outcomes. Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic and aneurysmal diseases in various locations [1, 2]. The Staurosporine prevalence of peripheral arterial disease increases with age and is 10–25% in people over 55 years of age. Seventy to eighty per cent of affected individuals are asymptomatic. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common and potentially life-threatening condition closely associated with atherosclerosis and aging [3]. Inflammation in vascular wall is characterized by accumulation of inflammatory cells, increased expression of cytokines and chemokines, matrix remodelling, oxidative stress, and depletion of smooth muscle cells. The terminal stage of aneurysmal disease

is characterized by intraluminal thrombus formation and rupture of arterial wall. The proportions and degradation rates of elastin and collagen play a key role in the formation and development of aneurysm [4, 5]. Carotid acetylcholine artery stenosis is the narrowing of the carotid arteries caused by plaque formation leading to the increased risk of cerebral ischaemic events because of plaque rupture and distal embolization. Stenosis of carotid arteries is a common sign of advanced systemic atherosclerosis. Aorto-occlusive disease (AOD) is a form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) where occlusive atherosclerosis involves the infrarenal aorta. Long-term survival of these patients is substantially decreased despite operative and medical management [6]. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of structurally related but genetically distinct zinc-containing enzymes capable of degrading almost all extracellular matrix and basement membrane components as well as in processing serpins, growth factors, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.