Expression And Significance Of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 And Tissue Inhibitor Of Metalloproteinase-1 In Adenomyosis

Objective:To observe the expression of matrix metalloproteinases-9(MMP-9) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases-1(TIMP-1)in adenomyosis,to explore the correlation between the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in adenomyosis and to study the possible role of them in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis.Method : Endometrium specimens were obtained from 30 patients with hysteromyoma (controls) and 28 with adenomyosis.MMP-9 were detected by immunohistochemical MAXvisionTM staining. The resuits were analyzed with SPSS15.0 statistical software.Result:①The expression of MMP-9 in ectopic endometrium of adenomyosis were significantly higher than those of eutopic endometrium and normal endometrium(P<0.05);and the expression of MMP-9 in eutopic endometrium of adenomyosis were significantly higher than that of normal endometrium(P<0.05) .②The expression of MMP-9 showed phase dependent changes in the eutopic endometrium of both groups , higher in the proliferative phase than in secretory the phase (P<0.05). In the ectopic endometrium with adenomyosis , the expression was similar in both phases (P>0.05).③The expression level of TIMP-1 in the ectopic endometrium with adenomyosis was significantly lower than those in the eutopic endometrium and normal endometrium (P both<0.05). The expression level of TIMP-1 in the eutopic endometrium was a little lower than that in normal endometrium, but there have no statistical difference between them(P>0.05).④The expression of TIMP-1 protein in the normal endometrium was significantly relevant to the phase of the menstrual cycle , higher in the proliferative phase than in secretory the phase (P<0.05).while those in ectopic/eutopic endometrium of adenomyosis were not irrespective of the clinical stage (P>0.05).⑤There was significantly negative correlation between expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in normal endometrium.But there was no correlation between the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in ectopic/eutopic endometrium of adenomyosis. Conclusion:The high expression of MMP-9 and the lopsided development on MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio may be related with the pathologic mechanism of adenomyosis.