Ischaemia–reperfusion injury activates matrix metalloproteinases in the human heart

Aims Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) regulate matrix remodelling in the heart and play a pivotal role in myocardial dysfunction immediately following ischaemia–reperfusion injury ex vivo in rats. We investigated the changes in MMPs and TIMPs in acute myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion injury in humans.