GENE EXPRESSION LEVELS OF GELATINASES IN ENDOMETRIOSIS

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of tissue resembling endometrium
outside the uterine cavity. Extensive remodeling existence in peritoneal mesothelium layer is necessary
for adhesion, invasion, and proliferation of endometrial fragments, which is required the activation of
matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs), as a normal menstrual cycle. MMPs are a family of zinc dependent
endopeptidase that play important roles in the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). It has been
suggested that overexpression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in endometriotic tissues may result in degradation
of peritoneal ECM and providing the adhesion and invasion to develop endometriosis disease.
Materials & Methods: For this purpose, we studied MMP-2,-9 expressions in ectopic and eutopic tissue
samples of women undergoing laparoscopy for endometriosis and eutopic tissues of fertile women at
Royan Institute. Twenty samples were used in each group and cDNAs were prepared from RNA which
had been isolated from each sample. Real-time PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expression
levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9.
Results: Our results showed the overexpression of MMP-2 in ectopic and eutopic tissues of patients
compared to the control group. However, statistical analysis showed no significant differences in the
expression levels of MMP-2 between groups (P>0.05). The expression of MMP-9 in ectopic
endometrium was significantly higher than that in eutopic and control group (P=0.012, P=0.014). Also,
MMP-9 had high level of gene expression in eutopic samples compared with control group, but it did
not reach the level (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Overexpression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in ectopic tissues of endometriosis may increase
the strength of adhesion, invasion, and angiogenesis in the target tissue and improve endometriosis
disease