基质金属蛋白酶MMP-1及其抑制因子TIMP-1在子宫内膜异位症中的表达及意义

Objective To investigate the expression and the role of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Methods RT-PCR and immunohistochemical S-P were employed to detect the gene and protein of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in ectopic and eutopic endometrium of 43 patients with endometriosis and 20 normal controls. Results The expression level of gene and protein of MMP-1 in the ectopic endometrium endometrial tissue was higher, while that of TIMP-1 in the endometrial tissue was lower, than that in the eutopic endometria of the patients with endometriosis and the normal controls (P＜0.05). The ratios of MMP-1/TIMP-1 gene in ectopic and eutopic endometria of the endometriosis patients were (1.46±0.57) and (1.15±0.38) respectively, significantly higher than that of the normal controls (P＜0.05). There was a significantly negative correlation between the expressions of TIMP-1 and MMP-1 in ectopic endometrium (P＜0.05). The expressions of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in endometrial tissue had no cyclical variation but was relative to clinical stage (P＜0.05). Conclusion The high expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and the low expression of TIMP-1 in endometrial tissue make the ectopic endometrial tissue more invasive, and play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.