Expression and significance of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2 protein in adenomyosis

Objective To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2(TIMP-2)in adenomyosis patients.Methods The expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in 28 normal and 45 ectopic endometrium of female adenomyosis patients were investigated,and twenty-eight normal women with normal endometrium were set as control.The expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were evaluated by immunohistochemical method(S-P).Results The expression of MMP-2 in normal and ectopic endometrium in adenomyosis increased markedly(P 0.05),and that of TIMP-2 in ectopic endometrium decreased significantly(P0.05).Conclusion The high expression of MMP-2 and the lopside development on MMP-2/ TIMP-2 ratio may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis.