The Expression And Significance Of TNF-α And MMP-1 In Middle Ear Cholesteatoma

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) in middle ear cholesteatoma epithelium of human.Then to analyze their corelations and roles in the hyperplasia and ossein destructiveness of human middle ear cholesteatoma epithelium.Methods35 cases of cholesteatoma specimens were collected at time of surgery and fixed immediately.According to the extent of ossein destructiveness,35 cases were divided into four groups:Ⅰdegree (6cases);ⅡDegree (11cases);Ⅲdegree (14cases);IV degree (4cases).At the same time,15 cases of the normal external auditory canal skin were used as the control group.Decalcification was performed and the expression of TNF-αand MMP-1 were examined by using the technique of immunohistochemistry in all the cases.The images of the stained section in each group were analyzed. Results1.The expression of TNF-a proteins on the epidermis of cholesteatoma was significantly higher than that of normal external auditory canal.The level of TNF-a in middle ear cholesteatoma was 132.80±18.90,the level of TNF-a in the skin of normal external auditory canal was74.59±13.72,and there was statistical significance between them (t=10.928,P<0.05).2.The positive imunostaining of MMP-1 could be observed in the membrane and slurry of endothelial cells in cholesteatoma,appeared as brown granular. The expression of MMP-1 proteins on the epidermis of cholesteatoma was significantly higher than that of normal external auditory canal.The level of MMP-1 in middle ear cholesteatoma was 126.76±12.64,the level of MMP-1 in the skin of external acoustic meatus was 92.56±12.13,and there was statistical significance between the them(t=7.382,P<0.05).3.The immustaining for TNF-a and MMP-1 was stronger as well as the degree of ossein destructiveness was stronger in human middle ear cholesteatoma epithelium.There was statistical significance between the groups(P<0.05)4.There was statistical significance between the level of TNF-a and MMP-1 in middle ear cholesteatoma (r=0.465,P<0.05)Conclusion1.The proteins of TNF-a and MMP-1 were highly expressed in human middle ear cholesteatoma epithelium. Maybe they were important in the proliferation and erosion behavior of cholesteatoma.2.The TNF-a and MMP-1 may play an important role for the erosion behavior of the ossein in middle ear cholesteatoma.3.The TNF-a and MMP-1 had positive correlations in the proliferation and erosion behavior of cholesteatoma epithelium.