Type-IV collagenase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase in ovarian cancer tissues.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the specific expression of gelatinase/type-IV collagenase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) in clinical ovarian cancer tissue.


METHODS
Molecular weight-specific gelatinase/type-IV collagenase activity was examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in which substrate was included (zymography). The expression of TIMP mRNA was examined by Northern blot analysis.


RESULTS
Zymography revealed that in ovarian cancer the activity of a 92-kDa gelatinase/type-IV collagenase was always greater than that of a 64-kDa gelatinase/type-IV collagenase in contrast to the situation in the normal ovary. Northern blot analysis revealed no remarkable difference of TIMP mRNA expression between cancer and normal ovarian tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the higher activity of the 92-kDa gelatinase/type-IV collagenase enzyme, relative to that of the 64-kDa enzyme, is involved in the malignant phenotype of ovarian cancer, while the inhibitor of these enzymes, TIMP, is distributed in a widespread fashion in the tissue, and its levels are not correlated with the malignancy.
Takemura
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Azuma
C
C
Kimura
T
T
Kanai
T
T
Saji
F
F
Tanizawa
O
O
D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017364:Collagenases / Q000032:analysis*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003536:Cystadenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D006023:Glycoproteins; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D017364:Collagenases; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9