title: Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in uterosacral ligament tissue from women with pelvic organ prolapse.
abstract: Mechanical stability of the urogenital tract depends on intact collagen fibers. Because of difficulties in quantitating collagen, some authors have investigated collagen breakdown by measuring matrix metalloproteinases expression. We biopsied 68 post-menopausal women during operation to evaluate matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression in uterosacral ligament biopsies from women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) (n = 34) and controls with normal pelvic support (n = 34). The controls were matched to the POP group by age, body mass index, parity and duration of postmenopausal state. Immunohistochemistry for MMP-1 was performed on formalin fixed and paraffin embedded sections. Women with POP had a significantly higher MMP-1 expression (p = 0.047) which confirms an association, although not a causal relation, between POP and increased MMP-1 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Split, Spincica 1, Split, Croatia. tstrinic@kbsplit.hr
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strinic
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vulic
authors.forename: Snjezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomic
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Capkun
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stipic
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alujevic
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000378:metabolism*; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1