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

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Metalloproteinase; Steroid-dependent; Ulcerative colitis.

Figure 1

Western blot of MMP-1 and MMP-3 protein expression. Compared with control, MMP-1 and MMP-3 protein expression showed slight increase in non-SDUC patients, but significantly increased in the SDUC group. A, Control; B, non-SDUC group; C, SDUC group.

Figure 2

Compared with control, MMP-1 and MMP-3 protein expression showed slight increase in non-SDUC patients (p > 0.05), but significantly increased in the SDUC group (p < 0.01). A, Control; B, non-SDUC group; C, SDUC group. * P < 0.01.

Figure 3

Immunohistochemical staining of MMP-1 protein in colonic tissue. There were no MMP-1 positive staining cells were found in control group; a small amount of MMP-1 positive staining cells were presented in non-SDUC group and were mainly located in glandular regions of colon; a large number of MMP-1 positive staining cells were shown in the SDUC group. A, Control; B, non-SDUC group; C, SDUC group. Original ×400.

Figure 4

Immunohistochemical staining of MMP-3 protein in colonic tissue. There were no MMP-3 positive staining cells were found in control group; a small amount of MMP-3 positive staining cells were presented in non-SDUC group and were mainly located in glandular regions of colon; a large number of MMP-3 positive staining cells were shown in the SDUC group. A, Control; B, non-SDUC group; C, SDUC group. Original ×400.