Expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in renal tissue of patients with chronic active antibody-mediated renal graft rejection.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metallopropteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in the renal allografts of patients with chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), and to explore their role in the pathogenesis of AMR.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry assay and computer-assisted image analysis were used to detect the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in the renal allografts with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA) in 46 transplant recipients and 15 normal renal tissue specimens as the controls. The association of the expression level of either MMP-2 or TIMP-1 with the pathological grade of IF/TA in AMR was analyzed.


RESULTS
The expression of either MMP-2 or TIMP-1 was significantly increased in the renal allografts of the recipients as compared with the normal renal tissue (P < 0.05). MMP-2 expression tended to decrease, while TIMP-1 and serum creatinine increased along with the increase of pathological grade of IF/TA (P < 0.05). In IF/TA groups, the expression of TIMP-1 was positively correlated to serum creatinine level (r = 0.718, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested by the results that abnormal expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 might play roles in the development of renal fibrosis in chronic AMR.
The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1128474926172838.
Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation Center of PLA, 181 Hospital of PLA, Guilin 541002, China.
Qiang
Q
Yan
Weiguo
W
Sui
Baoyao
B
Wang
Hequn
H
Zou
Guimian
G
Zou
Hao
H
Luo
D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015935:Complement C4b / Q000032:analysis; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C560822:TIMP1 protein, human; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D015935:Complement C4b; C032261:complement C4d; D003404:Creatinine; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2