Expression of the Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and the Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 in Endometriosis

Objective To investigate mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1) in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium from women with endometriosis.Methods Fourty women with endometriosis were selected as the study group.Forty ectopic endometrium and 18 matched eutopic endometrium were collected from them simultaneously at the time of surgery.Twenty normal endometrium specimens were taken as the control group.The mRNA expression of matrix MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were detected by reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction.Rusults The density of MMP-2 mRNA expression in ectopic endometrium(0.58±0.11) from endometriosis patients was significantly higher compared with eutopic endometrium(0.47±0.09) and endometrium(0.45±0.08) without endometriosis(P﹤0.05;P﹤0.01).The density of TIMP-1 mRNA expression in ectopic endome-trium(1.57±0.70) from endometriosis patients was significantly less compared with eutopic endometrium(2.21±0.95) and endometrium(2.38±0.78) without endometriosis(P﹤0.01,P﹤0.01).Conclusion The increased expression of MMP-2 mRNA of ectopic endometrium might enhance the endometrial implantation ability.Ectopic lesions expression is significantly less in TIMP-1 mRNA,indicating that they have increased invasion ability,which might contribute to the development of endometriosis.