Expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in endometriosis

Objective To investigate the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in affected tissue from women with and without endometriosis for exploring the role of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in endometriosis.Methods Expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2mRNA was evaluated by in situ hybridization.Results ①Both ectopic and entopic endometrium expressed higher levels of MMP-2 and lower levels of TIMP-2 than endometrium from normal women.Also,ectopic endometrium expressed higher levels of MMP-2 and lower level of TIMP-2 than entopic endometrium from endometriosis patients.The higher levels of MMP-2 and the lower levels of TIMP-2 expressed in stages Ⅲ/Ⅳ than in stages Ⅰ/Ⅱ.② There was a significantly negative correlation between expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in normal endometrium.Conclusion MMP-2 and TIMP-2 play an important role in the progression of endometriosis.