Expression of the matrix metalloproteinases and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases and their correlation analysis with the peritumor edema in glioblastoma

Objective: To investigate the expression of the Matrix Metalloproteinases（MMPs） and the Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases（TIMPs） in the glioblastoma, and analyze their correlation with the peritumor edema. Methods: Immunohistochmistry method was used to detect the expression of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-9 and TIMP-1, TIMP-2 in 17 cases of glioblastoma, and the in situ hybridization was used to detect the MMP-9 mRNA disribution. Results: MMP-1 positive in all the 17 cases and MMP-9 positive in 10 cases, both mainly sited in the nucleus and part of the plasma of the large nuclear cells; MMP-2 positive in 14 cases and MMP-3 positive in 6 cases, both sited in small nuclear cells and extracellular matrix; MMP-7 positive in 11 cases and locally sited in the small nuclear cells in the hemorrhagic and necrotic area; while there is no cases expresses TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Both the ratios of MMP-9 protein and mRNA positive in the 8 cases with peritumor edema are higher than that in non-peritumor edema （P＜0.05）, but there is no linear correlation between the expression with the peritumor edema degrees. Conclusions: There are varied MMPs expression and TIMPs deficiency in glioblastoma, the MMP-9 is probably related to the appearance of peritumor edema.