[Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2, 9 and it's tissue inhibitor-1, 2 in endometrial carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, 9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, 2 protein in human endometrial carcinoma tissue and its relation to the invasion and metastasis of endometrial carcinoma.


METHODS
Immunocytochemistry and zymography techniques were used to measure the MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 protein levels and activities in endometrial carcinoma tissue of 37 patients and control group composed of 7 normal postmenstrual endometrial samples.


RESULTS
The MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 proteins mainly expressed in endometrial carcinoma cells, glandular cells and endothelial cells. The strongly positive expression proportions of MMP-2, 9 and TIMP-1 proteins in grade III carcinoma cells were respectively 73%, 20% and 67%, which were higher than those in grade II (13%, 0, 27%) and grade I (0) ones (P < 0.05). They were also higher in endometrial carcinoma with deep layer invasion ones (63%, 16%, 68%) and lymph node metastasis ones (4/4, 3/4, 4/4). TIMP-2 did not show different expression with the tumor invasion and metastasis. In endothelial cells of grade III carcinoma tissue the strongly positive expression proportions of MMP-2 (60%) and TIMP-1 (60%) proteins, not MMP-9, were found in higher amount comparing with those in grade II (20%) and grade I (1/7) tumor tissues (P < 0.05). The density of above four proteins were all found very low in the normal postmenopausal endometrial tissues (P < 0.05). By zymography test the active MMP-2 was the main protein form in adenocarcinoma tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression levels in adenocarcinoma tissue correlate with the histologic grade and invasion/metastasis trend. Active MMP-2 is the main form in endometrial cancer.
Guo
Wenping
W
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
Chen
Guian
G
Zhu
Cheng
C
Wang
Hongmei
H
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry; D000368:Aged; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000032:analysis*
D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9