The role of inflammation and matrix metalloproteinases in equine endometriosis.
Equine endometriosis is a multifactorial disease considered to be a major cause of equine infertility. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of histomorphological grading for biopsy-like samples compared to entire uterine wall samples, to examine the association between the degree of endometriosis with animal age, and to investigate the role of inflammation in endometriosis and the expression of different matrix metalloproteinases in equine endometrium. Histomorphological lesions in 35 uterine samples were examined while comparing biopsy-like samples and entire-wall samples. Seventeen uterine samples were stained with antibodies against MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-14, and TIMP-2. The morphologic evaluation results of the biopsy-like tissue and entire-wall samples were significantly correlated. Endometriosis in older mares (>12 years of age) was more severe than in young mares (2 ~ 4 years of age), confirming the positive correlation between animal age and disease severity, while inflammation was poorly related to the degree of endometriosis. MMP-2 and MMP-14 were detected in stromal cells, while MMP-9 and TIMP-2 were both found in stromal and glandular epithelial cells. There were no significant differences in MMPs expression between the two groups (young vs. old mares). Additional studies on the activity of MMPs could further define the role of these enzymes in equine endometriosis.
Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Patologia Comparata e Igiene Veterinaria, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Viale dell'Università, 16-35020-Legnaro (Padova) 049-8272963, Italy. luca.aresu@unipd.it
Luca
L
Aresu
Silvia
S
Benali
Diana
D
Giannuzzi
Roberto
R
Mantovani
Massimo
M
Castagnaro
Maria Elena
ME
Falomo
D000818:Animals; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006736:Horses; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases