Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases (TIMP) in Diabetic Patients

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) play important regulatory roles in degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). We measured serum and urinary concentrations of TIMP in diabetic patients and compared the values obtained with those of normal controls. Serum concentrations of TIMP in diabetic patients were not significantly higher than those of control subjects. However, urinary concentrations of TIMP in diabetic patients with proteinuria and renal insufficiency were significantly higher than those of control subjects. Urinary concentrations of TIMP may be increased in patients with advanced diabetic nephropathy. These results suggest that accumulation of glomerular extracellular matrix in diabetes is partly due to increased secretion of TIMP in renal glomeruli.