Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in human prostate.
OBJECTIVE
Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), one of the extracellular matrix-degrading metalloproteinases, plays an important role in carcinoma invasion and metastasis. Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), one of the inhibitors of MMP-7, regulates extracellular matrix turnover.


METHODS
Gene expression levels of MMP-7 and TIMP-1 were examined in 20 prostate carcinomas after hormonal therapy and 12 benign prostate hyperplasias (BPH) by Northern blot analysis. Enzymatic activities of MMP-7 were examined in 7 prostate carcinomas and 1 BPH in the above prostate tissues by the method of caseinolytic zymography. These data were compared with the clinicopathological features.


RESULTS
There were significant correlations between levels of MMP-7 mRNA or the ratio of MMP-7 mRNA/TIMP-1 mRNA and pathological stage (p <0.01), lymph node metastasis (p <0.05), histological differentiation (p <0.05), vascular invasion (p <0.05), and lymphatic invasion (p <0.05). Levels of MMP-7 mRNA and the ratio of MMP-7 mRNA/TIMP-1 mRNA were significantly increased in prostate carcinomas from patients with high levels of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) (>10 ng./ml.) after hormonal therapy (p <0.05). The activation ratio of pro MMP-7 was elevated in the cases with advanced prostate carcinoma compared with those of organ-confined prostate carcinoma and BPH.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that MMP-7 may play an important role for invasion and metastasis in prostate carcinomas, and the balance between MMP-7 and TIMP-1 expression may relate to an invasive ability of prostate carcinomas.
Department of Urology, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan.
K
K
Hashimoto
Y
Y
Kihira
Y
Y
Matuo
T
T
Usui
D000368:Aged; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7