Matrix Remodelling and MMP Expression/Activation Are Associated with Hidradenitis Suppurativa Skin Inflammation

The study investigated the inflammatory response in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) skin using an ex vivo model with nine skin biopsy specimens. It found that HS skin exhibited variations in collagen I and III organization and increased elastin fiber fragmentation after 4 days of culture. This matrix remodeling was linked to elevated levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in HS lesional skin. Additionally, IL-1β concentrations increased in all samples, with higher levels in HS lesional skin compared to controls. However, IL-17 and inflammasome components NLRP3 and caspase-1 did not vary. The findings suggested that MMP-induced matrix alteration could contribute to HS inflammation by releasing active peptides and inflammatory factors from the extracellular matrix, offering new insights into the regulation of HS-associated inflammatory mechanisms.