The effect of the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 protein on the window phase of endometrial implantation in unexplained infertillie women / 浙江大学学报·医学版

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 ( TIMP-1) protein on embryo implantation in unexplained infertile women. METHODS: Forty three women were divided into two groups 29 unexplained infertile (study group) and 14 women with normal fertile function (control group).Immunohistochemical analysis was applied to measure the cell expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the endometrial implantation window phase of the two groups. RESULTS: The cells positive for these solu-ble proteinases were found in the epithelial and stromal cells in all endometrial samples. Semi-quantitative analysis showed that,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were weaker in the endometrial glandular cells of infertile women then in those of the control group(MMP-9230.79+/-43.92 compared with 307.78+/-44.25; TIMP-1233.05+/-48.51 compared with 297.86+/-35.56,P<0.05). There was no statistical correlation between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 with blood estradiol(E(2)) and progesterone (P) in the two groups (P>0.05). But in control group, there was a negative correlation tendency in MMP-9/P and TIMP-1/P (MMP-9/P r=-0.330,TIMP-1/P r=-0.401). CONCLUSION: In unexplained inferrile women, the low expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 protein in the implantation window phase may be one of the important factors that affect the embryo impantation.