Immunoexpression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-14 in extragenital endometriosis and eutopic endometrium

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases are proteolytic enzymes responsible for the disorder of extracellular matrix modeling in endometriosis and their involvement in the invasion process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of matrix-metalloproteinases MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-14 in surgical excision specimens, collected from women with extragenital endometriosis compared to their expression in the normal endometrium. Material and methods: The study included 40 female patients diagnosed with extragenital endometriosis. The used methods consisted in processing the specimens by classical histological technique with paraffin inclusion and enzymatic immunohistochemical technique for the detection of metalloproteinases MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-14. Results: The expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-14 was significant in glandular cells from endometriotic lesions, while MMP-9 was evident in both stromal and glandular cells in these lesions. The expression MMP-1 was not present. Normal endometrial tissue showed high reactivity for MMP-14 and low reactivity for MMP-2 and MMP-9. Conclusions: This study reveals some aspects related to the morphological and clinical features of extragenital endometriosis with different locations and the correlation between the clinical evolution and some immunohistochemical markers with potential prognosis regarding the aggressiveness of such lesions