Matrix metalloproteinase-2, membranous type 1 matrix metalloproteinase, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 expression in ectopic and eutopic endometrium.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), membranous type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in ectopic and eutopic endometrium from women with and without endometriosis throughout the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Molecular studies in human tissue.


METHODS
Reproductive immunology laboratory of a university medical center.


METHODS
Fifty-three premenopausal woman (23 with endometriosis and 30 without endometriosis) undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Endometrium and ectopic endometriosis tissue were obtained at the time of surgery.


METHODS
Messenger RNA and protein expression from eutopic and ectopic endometrium was analyzed by using quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction, zymography, and Western blot assay.


RESULTS
Uterine endometrium from women with endometriosis expressed higher levels of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP and lower levels of TIMP-2 than did endometrium from normal women.


CONCLUSIONS
Eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis may be more invasive and prone to peritoneal implantation because of greater expression of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP and lower expression of TIMP-2 messenger RNA, compared with endometrium from women without endometriosis. Thus, increased proteolytic activity may help to explain the invasive factors that result in endometriosis.
Chung
Hye Won
HW
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hyewon@mm.ewha.ac.kr
Lee
Ji Young
JY
Moon
Hye-Sung
HS
Hur
Sung Eun
SE
Park
Mi Hye
MH
Wen
Yan
Y
Polan
Mary Lake
ML
D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2