Effects of matrix metalloproteinase-3, osteopontin, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in the formation of cataract / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression and significance of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), osteopontin (OPN) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in human lens epithelial cells (LECs) of cataract.@*METHODS@#The MMP-3, OPN, and TIMP-1 expressions in LECs of anterior subcapsular cataract (31 cases), nuclear cataract (28 cases) and normal lens (12 cases) were detected by immunohistochemistry, respectively.@*RESULTS@#The MMP-3 expression in anterior subcapsular cataract was significantly higher than that in nuclear cataract and normal lens (chi2=31.49, 34.479; P=0.000); but there was no statistic significance between nuclear cataract and normal lens (chi2=2.449, P=0.118). The OPN expression in anterior subcapsular cataract was also significantly higher than that in nuclear cataract and normal lens (chi2=29.450, 15.889; P=0.000). There was no significant difference in the TIMP-1 expression among the 3 groups (P>0.05). Positive correlation was found between MMP-3 and OPN in LECs of anterior subcapsular cataract (r=0.381, P=0.035). But no significant correlation was found among MMP-3, OPN, and TIMP-1 (r=0.121, -0.289; P=0.516, 0.114).@*CONCLUSION@#Increased expression of MMP-3 and OPN and the expression imbalance between MMP-3 and TIMP-1 may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of anterior subcapsular cataract.