[Relationship of the disturbed balance between matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors and the invasion of malignant salivary gland tumours].
OBJECTIVE
To detect protein expression of MMPs and TIMPs in various salivary gland neoplasms and to investigate their roles in invasion and metastasis of the malignant salivary gland tumors.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry and Gelatin zymography analyses for MMP-2, MMP-9, MT1-MMP, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were performed in 26 malignant and 28 benign salivary gland tumors.


RESULTS
The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was significantly higher in carcinomas than in adenomas (P < 0.05). The MMP-2/TIMP-1 and MMP-2/TIMP-2 was also significantly higher in carcinomas than in adenomas (P < 0.05). There was a cooperated effect among MMP-2, MT1-MMP and TIMP-2. The expression of active MMP-2, proMMP-9 and active MMP-9 was significantly higher in malignant tumors than in benign tumors (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
MMP-2 and MMP-9 may play important roles in invasion of malignant salivary gland tumors. A disturbed balance between MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in malignant salivary gland tumors was detected. It was the absolute increase of MMP-2 and MMP-9 to induce the unbalance.
Tian
Kun
K
Dept. of Oral Pathology, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Chen
Yu
Y
Geng
Ning
N
Yang
Ming-Zhong
MZ
Zhang
Wei-Ping
WP
D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms; D012469:Salivary Glands; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2
D004792:Enzyme Precursors; C560822:TIMP1 protein, human; C560823:TIMP2 protein, human; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; C120487:pro-matrix metalloproteinase 9; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9