Expressions of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Tissue Inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinases-2 in Adenomyosis

Objective: To investigate the significance of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in the occurrence and development of adenomyosis.Methods: The method of immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 respectively in 46 cases with ectopic endometrium,and eutopic endometrium,and 30 cases with uterine myoma endometrium.Results: The positive expression rate of MMP-2 was 33.33% in uterine myoma endometrium,89.13% in ectopic endometrium and 84.78% in eutopic endometrium(P0.01).The positive expression rates of TIMP-2 were as follows: 46.67% in uterine myoma endometrium,15.22% in ectopic endometrium,and 47.83% in eutopic endometrium(P0.01).Conclusions: The increased expression of MMP-2 and the decreased expression of TIMP-2 in the ectopic endometriosis tissue may lead to the imbalance of the MMP-2 and TIMP-2,resulting in their participating the oc-currence and development of adenomyosis.