Immunodetections of Metalloproteinase-2 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 in the Uterine Endometrium

Woo, Y J; Park, Y S

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinases[MMP] have the ability to degrade all protein components of the extracellular matrix and are strongly implicated in menstruation. MMPs play a major role in normal tissue remodeling as well as invasion of malignant cells. Synthesis of collagenases[MMP-2] by endometrial stromal cells has been reported in several studies indicating that they are important in remodeling of the endometrial mucosa during the menstrual cycle and in cell cultures. The activity of MMPs is rigorously controlled at several levels, including synthesis as a proenzyme requiring activation and production of specific inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of MMPs. This study was aimed to investigate the role of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in the non- neoplastic human endometrial tissue by studying their expressions in 16 cases of the proliferative and secretory phase of endometrium with immunohistochemical stain. In endometrium, stromal synthesis of the MMP-2 and TIMP-2 could be detected in both of the proliferative and secretory phase. In epithelial cells, only 2 cases[25%] of the proliferative phase and 3 cases[38%] of the secretory phase showed MMP-2 expression. The presence of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in normal endometrium reflects their importance in tissue response and matrix remodeling during the proliferative and secretory phase of menstrual cycle.