title: Expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 in gastric cancer and their relation to claudin-4 expression.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-2 and MMP-9 can degrade type IV collagen of extracellular matrix and basal membranes. Claudin-4 is a member of a large family of transmembrane proteins, claudins, essential in the formation and maintenance of tight junctions. Claudin-4 has been shown to activate MMP-2, indicating that claudin-mediated increased cancer cell invasion might be mediated through the activation of MMP proteins. To explore the roles of MMP-2, MMP-9 and claudin-4 in gastric cancer, we selected 88 cases and then analyzed the expression of these proteins using immunohistochemistry. We found that all of MMP-2, MMP-9 and claudin-4 expressions were significantly higher in intestinal-type than in diffuse-type gastric cancer. On further analysis, testing the relationship between MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression with claudin-4 expression, claudin-4 expression was significantly associated with MMP-9 expression, but not with MMP-2 expression. The results showed that MMP-2, MMP-9 and claudin-4 expression may be phenotypic features, distinguishing intestinal-type and diffuse-type gastric cancer. Possibly, claudin-4 played a role in determining MMP-9 activity which favored intestinal-type gastric cancer to distal metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Yu
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chi-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chee-Chan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jau-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Kuo-Hao
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chih-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Tsann-Long
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D062506:Claudin-4; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C568157:CLDN4 protein, human; D062506:Claudin-4; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9