Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the eutopic endometrial tissue of women with endometriosis

T Collette, Rodolphe Maheux, R Maheux, J Mailloux, Jacques Mailloux, A Akoum, Ali Akoum
Human Reproduction · 2006 · vol. 21(12) , pp. 3059–3067 · doi:10.1093/humrep/del297 · PMID:16880228 · W2157602823
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Endometrial tissue from women with endometriosis showed increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 protein expression and a higher MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio, suggesting involvement in disease invasiveness.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a disease where endometrial tissue implants in ectopic locations. Remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a prerequisite for the implantation of this tissue to be possible. METHODS: In this study, we detected immunoreactive matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) throughout endometrial tissue and identified von Willebrand factor (vWF)-positive endothelial cells, CD45-positive leukocytes, CD3-positive T lymphocytes and CD68-positive macrophages as cells expressing MMP-9 in the stroma. RESULTS: We found an increased expression of MMP-9 in the uterine endometrial tissue of women with endometriosis, as assessed by zymography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (P < 0.05). However, RT-PCR did not show a statistically significant increase in MMP-9 mRNA expression in these tissues (P = 0.14). There was no significant difference between women with and without endometriosis in the expression of tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMP)-1, a known natural inhibitor of the pro- and active forms of MMP-9, whether tested by ELISA or by RT-PCR (P = 0.46 and 0.37, respectively). Interestingly, the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 expression was significantly higher in women with endometriosis than in normal women both at the protein and the mRNA levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings make plausible the involvement of MMP-9/TIMP-1 imbalance in the invasiveness of the endometrial tissue of patients with endometriosis and the ectopic development of the disease.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometrium Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 RNA, Messenger Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 Adult Case-Control Studies Endometriosis Endometrium Female Humans Laparoscopy Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Menstrual Cycle RNA, Messenger Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1

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