Expression of membrane-type 5 matrix metalloproteinase in human endometrium and endometriosis.
BACKGROUND
The metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic enzymes involved in tissue remodeling and cell migration. Endometrial tissue remodeling proceeds during the menstrual cycle and requires a temporary and spatially balanced expression of several different MMPs. Various members of the MMPs also seem to play an important role in the invasion process of endometriosis; however, so far only a limited number of studies have focused on membrane-associated MMPs.


METHODS
The present study investigated the expression of membrane-type 5 metalloproteinase (MT5-MMP) in the human endometrium and endometriotic lesions by microarray hybridization, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
Both the gene chip expression analyses as well as PCR indicated expression of MT5-MMP in normal human endometrium and strongly elevated transcript levels in most peritoneal endometriosis lesions analyzed. Moreover we detected enhanced MT5-MMP expression in the eutopic endometrium from patients suffering from endometriosis, further supporting a role of MT5-MMP in the formation of endometriosis. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to determine the intracellular localization and tissue distribution of MT5-MMP. While the MT5-MMP antigen expression could be clearly attributed to the membrane of epithelial cells, a highly complex differential immunohistochemical staining of MT5-MMP in the various compartments of endometrial tissue was observed. The strongest staining was seen in luminal epithelial cells, whereas endometrial glands frequently showed partial expression of MT5-MMP.


CONCLUSIONS
Our microarray analysis and real-time PCR of MT5-MMP transcripts may point to an elevated tissue remodeling and cell migration in endometrium from endometriosis patients as implied by the function of related MMPs.
Gaetje
Regine
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany. gaetje@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Holtrich
Uwe
U
Engels
Knut
K
Kourtis
Katherina
K
Cikrit
Eva
E
Kissler
Stefan
S
Rody
Achim
A
Karn
Thomas
T
Kaufmann
Manfred
M
D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
C492243:MMP24 protein, human; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated