Expressions of MMPs and TIMP-1 in gastric ulcers may differentiate H. pylori-infected from NSAID-related ulcers.
BACKGROUND
Two major causes of gastric ulcers are Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine if there were different expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) between H. pylori-infected and NSAID-related ulcers.


METHODS
The 126 gastric ulcer patients (H. pylori infected n = 46; NSAID related n = 30; combined with two factors n = 50) provided ulcer and nonulcer tissues for assessment of MMP-3, -7, and -9 and TIMP-1 expression by immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Gastric ulcer tissues had significantly higher MMP-3, -7, and -9 and TIMP-1 expressions than nonulcer tissues (P < 0.05). H. pylori-infected gastric ulcers had even higher MMP-7, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 expressions in epithelial cells than NSAID-related gastric ulcers (P < 0.05). In patients with the two combined factors, gastric ulcers expressed similar proportions of antral ulcers and MMP-7 and MMP-9 intensities to NSAID-related gastric ulcers, but lower MMP-9 and TIMP-1 than H. pylori-infected gastric ulcers (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
H. pylori-infected gastric ulcers express higher MMP-7, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 than NSAID-related ulcers. In patients with the two combined factors, ulcer location and MMP-7 and MMP-9 intensities are similar to NSAID use.
Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng Li Road, Tainan 70403, Taiwan.
Hsiu-Chi
HC
Cheng
Hsiao-Bai
HB
Yang
Wei-Lun
WL
Chang
Wei-Ying
WY
Chen
Yi-Chun
YC
Yeh
Bor-Shyang
BS
Sheu
D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; C560822:TIMP1 protein, human; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9