Expression and significance of serum MMP-9 in patients with endometriosis

Objective:To detect the level of serum matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) in patients with endometriosis,explore the effect and significance of MMP-9 in endometriosis.Methods:Serum samples of 35 patients with endometriosis were collected,including 24 samples in proliferative phase and 11 samples in secretion phase;according to the standard of American Fertility Society (R-AFS),35 patients were divided into stage Ⅰ～Ⅱ (12 patients) and stage Ⅲ～Ⅳ (23 patients);according to pathological types,35 patients were divided into ovarian endometriosis (20 patients),peritoneal endometriosis (4 patients) and deep infiltrating endometriosis (11 patients).25 patients with hysteromyoma were selected as control group,the preoperative serum samples were collected,including 11 samples in proliferative phase and 14 samples in secretion phase.The expression levels of serum MMP-9 in endometriosis and hysteromyoma were detected by ELISA,the difference was analyzed.Results:There was significant difference in serum MMP-9 level between the two groups (P0.05);in endometriosis group,there was significant difference in serum MMP-9 level between stage Ⅲ～Ⅳ and stage Ⅰ～Ⅱ (P0.05);there was no correlation between serum MMP-9 level in endometriosis and menstrual cycle (P0.05);in endometriosis group,there was significant difference in serum MMP-9 level among ovarian endometriosis,peritoneal endometriosis and deep infiltrating endometriosis (P0.05).Conclusion:MMP-9 may play an important role in pathogenesis and development of endometriosis,and it may be an important factor of oncogenesis and development of endometriosis;high expression of MMP-9 in endometriosis provides a theoretical basis for anti-MMP-9 therapy in treatment of endometriosis.