Expression of MMPs and TIMPs in endometriosis and its significance

Objective To further explore relation of endometriosi s and matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs),tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases(TI-M MP).Methods The histopathological changes and the expressions of MMP-2?MMP-9-MT-MMP and TIMP-1 were determined and observed with immunohist ochemistry and lightmicroscopy in 17 cases of eutopic endometrium with endometri osis, 17 cases of ovarian ectopic endometrium with endometriosis, 6 cases of ute rine endometrial adenocarcinama and 20 cases of non-endometriosis and non-tumu rous endometrial tissue were used as control.Results The expressi on of MMP-2?MMP-9?MT-MMP in eutopic endometrium with endometrisos,ovarian e ctopic endometrium with endometriosis and uterine endometrial adenocarcinama was markedly higher than that in control group, of whick there was significant diff erence between ectopic endometrium group and control group.TIMP-1 expression in ovarian ectopic endometrium and uterine endometrial adenocarcinama was signific antly lower than that in control group.Conclusion Occurrence of e ndometriosis maybe related to abnormal expression of multiple factors such as MM P TIMP and so on.Determination of these factors can provide a new way for diagno sing and preventing endometriosis.