Results
PMID | 11821264 |
Gene Name | TIMP1 |
Condition | Endometriosis |
Association |
Associated |
Population size | 43 |
Population details | 43 (22 infertile women with mild or moderate endometriosis, 21 control group of infertile patients) |
Sex | Female |
Infertility type | Female infertility |
Associated genes | MMP-9, TIMP-1 |
Other associated phenotypes |
Endometriosis, Infertility |
Hum Reprod. 2002 Feb;17(2):284-8. Szamatowicz, J| Laudanski, P| Tomaszewska, I Department of Gynaecology, Bialystok Medical University, Bialystok, Poland. szamat@cksr.ac.bialystok.pl BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of endopeptidases which play a role in the degradation and turnover of extracellular matrix proteins. Their action is regulated by specific tissue inhibitors called tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). METHODS: We measured the concentrations of total and active MMP-9 in peritoneal fluid of infertile women with mild or moderate endometriosis (n = 22) and compared them with those in a control group of infertile patients (n = 21). RESULTS: We found that the mean (+/-SD) total concentrations of MMP-9 in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis was 6.2 +/- 1.8 ng/ml, in comparison with 2.9 +/- 2.6 ng/ml in the control group (P = 0.001). Concentrations of active MMP-9 did not differ significantly between the groups. The concentrations of TIMP-1, after logarithmic transformation, were significantly lower (P = 0.017) in endometriotic peritoneal fluids than in peritoneal fluid of control women, 1.02 +/- 0.21 ng/ml and 1.16 +/- 0.18 ng/ml respectively. No correlation between stage of disease, steroid hormone concentration, MMP-9 (total and active) and TIMP-1 was found. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a disturbed equilibrium exists between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis. This may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Mesh Terms: Adult| Ascitic Fluid/metabolism| Endometriosis/complications/etiology/*metabolism| Enzyme Activation| Female| Humans| Infertility, Female/etiology| Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/*metabolism/physiology| Osmolar Concentration| Tissue Inhibitor of Meta |