Matrix metalloproteinases in the cervical mucus plug in relation to gestational age, plug compartment, and preterm labor

Table 3 Plug compartment

Group	n	MMP-2 ng/mg CMP	TIMP-1 ng/mg CMP	MMP-8 ng/mg CMP	MMP-9 ng/mg CMP	IL-8 pg/mg CMP	Molar ratio TIMP/MMP
Term CMP-dist	15	0.54 (0.23-1.3)	1.2 (0.48-2.8)	6.6 (3.4-13)	7.53 (3.9-15)	213 (139-327)	0.20 (0.071-0.58)
Term whole CMP	15	0.48 (0.16-1.4)	1.4 (0.57-3.5)	1.9 (1.2-2.9)	1.7 (0.88-3.4)	78 (55-110)	0.72 (0.26-2.0)
Student's t-test P-value		0.9	0.7	0.002	0.003	< 0.001	0.07

Comparison of concentrations and molar TIMP/MMP ratios in the term CMP-dists (from Table 2) and the term whole CMPs (from Table 4) which were collected from two separate populations. Protein concentrations are given as geometric mean (95% CI).

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