MMP-2,MMP-14,TIMP-2 expression in the nucleus pulposus of degenerated intervertebral discs and its clinical significance

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2),matrix metalloproteinases-14(MMP-14),and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) in nucleus pulposus of hunman degenerated intervertebral discs.Methods The expression of MMP-2、MMP-14 and TIMP-2 was detected in 36 nucleus pulposus of degenerated intervertebral disc and 20 nucleus pulposus of Lumbar fracture patient’s intervertebral disc with immunohistochemical staining method.Results Positive staining rate of MMP-2 and MMP-14 in degenerated group were markedly higher than that in control group(P0.001),while no significant difference of TIMP-2 was observed.A positive correlation was observed between the degeneration grade and the amount of MMP-2,MMP-14 and TIMP-2 (rs=0.710,P0.001;rs=0.617,P0.001;rs=0.406,P=0.014,respectively).Moreover,the amount of MMP-2 correlated positively with MMP-14 and TIMP-2 (rs=0.665,P0.001;rs=0.516,P=0.001,respectively).Conclusion The difference expression of MMP-2,MMP-14 and TIMP-2 in nucleus pulposus indicates that MMP-2,MMP-14 and TIMP-2 is likely to leading to intervertebral disc degeneration(IVD).