A study on the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in patients with ulcerative colitis

Purpose: To investigate the expression matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.Methods: The expression of MMPs and TIMPs) was evaluated in 50 patients (36 males, 14 females) with UC who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China. Tissue samples obtained from core needle biopsies were evaluated using immunochemistry techniques.Results: MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were strongly expressed in the glandular epithelium and inflammatory cells. In addition, the expression was coupled with changes in the tissue architecture and inflammation in the lamina propria. The expression of MMPs and weak activation of their inhibitors was related to UC progression. There were significant correlations between MMP expression and histopathological parameters (p = 0.051, R = 0.392). MMP expression correlated with weaker expression of TIMPs (p = 0.032, R = 0.0581)Conclusion: MMP-2, MMP-7, and MMP-9 are potential targets for therapeutic control of UC.Keywords: Glandular epithelium, Inflammatory cells, Inhibitors, Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, Ulcerative coliti