Increased Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and 3 in Remission Patients of Steroid-Dependent Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND: This study was to investigate the pathological significance of protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) in colon tissues of remission patients of steroid-dependent uncreative colitis (SDUC). METHODS: To test the possible involvement of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in SDUC, Western- blot and immunohistochemistry were applied to examine the protein expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in the colonic healing region from 10 remission patients with SDUC as well as from 10 remission patients with non-SDUC. Ten specimens from normal colon tissues were used as controls. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the protein expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 from non-SDUC remission patients slightly increased (p > 0.05), in contrast, those from SDUC patients significantly increased (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Over-expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 play a critical role in the pathogenesis of SDUC.