Expression and clinical significance of MMP-14 and TIMP-2 in adenomyoma

Objective:To detect the expression of MMP-14 and TIMP-2 in ectopic endometrium of adenomyoma and its relation with the pathogenesis of adenomyoma. Methods:Endometrial specimens were obtained from 35 normal uteri and 65 with adenomyoma. MMP-14 and TIMP-2 were detected by immunohistochemical streptavidin-peroxidase staining. Results: (1)Ectopic endometrium ex-pressed higher levels of MMP-14, than eutopic endometrium from normal and EMs patients(P0.05).(2)Ectopic and eutopic endometrium from EMs patients expressed lower levels of TIMP-2 than normal control endometrium.(3)In the normal control endometrium there was a statistically significant negative correlation between MMP-14 and TIMP-2 expression levels, with correlation coefficients of -0.721 (P 0.01). Conclusion:The expression of MMP-14 and TIMP-2 in ectopic endometria of adenomyoma may cause to change local angiogene-sis and enhance the growth and survival of ectopic endometrial implants.