Protease-Antiprotease Imbalance in Inflammatory Diseases in the Lung

We are very interested in the extensive research by Vernooy et al, 1 Vernooy JH Lindeman JH Jacobs JA et al. Increased activity of matrix metalloproteinase-8 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in induced sputum from patients with COPD. Chest. 2004; 126: 1802-1810 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (161) Google Scholar who addressed the importance of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) in the pathogenesis and/or the development of COPD. It is likely to be important to evaluate the activity of the proteases rather than the expression of MMPs. Protease/antiprotease imbalance has also been postulated to be important in the pathogenesis of COPD. However, the authors did not refer to the activity of the inhibitor of MMPs, tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease (TIMP). Thus, evaluation of the activity of TIMP will increase the understanding of the disease.