MMP-12 as a potential biomarker to forecast ischemic stroke in obese patients.

Human health is threatened by obesity which causes the increasing incidence of various diseases, especially stroke. Ischemic stroke (IS) is mostly caused by the rupture of arterial plaque, whose instability is positively associated with matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrades extracellular matrix components. Studies have shown that matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) may be involved in the pathogenesis of IS. Because of the higher incidence of stroke in obese patients than that in normal weight people, it is urgent for obesity to forecast stroke early. Considering high levels MMP-12 in obesity, we put forward that MMP-12 may be a potential biomarker for IS in obese patients.