Evaluation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) Serum Levels in Acne Vulgaris Patients: A Potential Biomarker for Disease Severity

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

1 Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

2 Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

10.21608/ejmm.2025.412214.1825

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological disorder affecting mainly young males and females. It usually emerges after puberty, and it’s represented by nodular and postural inflammatory lesions. MMP-9 is an extracellular matrix-degrading enzyme plays a major role in the progression and the severity of the disease. Objectives: to evaluate the blood level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in acne patients and how it connects to the severity of the illness. Methodology: This case–control study was conducted from October 2024 to March 2025 on 60 acne vulgaris patients matched with 30 healthy individuals as a control, collected from the Dermatology Center in Medical City, with ages ranging from 14 to 25 years. Detailed history and clinical examination were carried out. MMP-9 was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for all subjects, and the results were statistically analyzed and tabulated. Results: The MMP-9 level in the control group had a mean ± SD of 101.102 ± 7.71. The mild and moderate acne group was found to have a mean ± SD of 103.768 ± 13.36, while in the severe acne group, the mean ± SD was 111.829 ± 12.17. The difference between the severe and the control was very highly significant (p ≤ 0.0003), and between patient groups (p ≤ 0.0004), but the difference between the mild and control groups was not significant (p ≤ 0.16). Conclusion: MMP-9 blood quantification is advised to be incorporated as a biomarker of acne severity instead of the currently used methods.

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