title: Gelatinolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in middle ear cholesteatoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cholesteatoma of the middle ear or mastoid is a hyperproliferative disorder of keratinocytes characterized by a progressive bone erosion. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 gelatinases are endopeptidases targeting extracellular protein. Several studies examined the role of gelatinases in the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma, but the biologic mechanism by which cholesteatoma destroys the bone tissue remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to characterize the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human cholesteatoma and external auditory canal skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the study, specimens of cholesteatoma and middle ear canal skin from 14 patients treated surgically at the Department of Otolaryngology were used. After two-step extraction of MMP-2 and MMP-9 from tissue samples, gelatinolytic activity was assessed with zymography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We noticed the augmentation of MMP-9 (p = .0001) and MMP-2 (p = .046) activity obtained from cholesteatoma in comparison with control skin. The MMP-9 active to latent ratio was significantly higher in cholesteatoma samples versus normal skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicates that MMP-9 and, to a lesser degree, MMP-2 overexpression may be implicated in the molecular mechanisms of cholesteatoma invasion and bone destruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suchozebrska-Jesionek
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szymański
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurzepa
authors.forename: Wiesław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gołabek
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stryjecka-Zimmer
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018093:Gelatinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9