Vaginal Lactoferrin Modulates PGE₂, MMP-9, MMP-2, and TIMP-1 Amniotic Fluid Concentrations

Figure 2

Evaluation of MMP/TIMP molar ratio in controls and patients treated with lactoferrin. MMP-9/TIMP-1 molar ratio was not different in controls and patients treated with lactoferrin 4 hours before amniocentesis (a), whereas we observed an increase in the MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio after treatment with lactoferrin ((b), ). It is noteworthy that the ratio was below 1. In all the panels, the line between the data represents the median. MMP-9: matrix metalloproteinase-9; MMP-2: matrix metalloproteinase-2; TIMP-1: tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1; TIMP-2: tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2.

(a)

(b)