Abstract:
Endometriosis, a gynecological condition mainly associated with chronic pelvic pain and infertility, is characterized by presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. It affects 50-60% of women experiencing chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases are membrane-anchored proteins that are involved in extracellular matrix remodeling as well as in other physiological and pathological processes including proliferation, angiogenesis and cell invasion. Recently, the role of MMPs in endometriosis has been described. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of MT1-MMP in serum samples of patients with and those without endometriosis and its correlation with different clinical characteristics. ELISAs were used to measure the levels of MT1-MMP in serum samples of patients with (n=71) and without (n=61) endometriosis. MT1-MMP levels were significantly higher in the menstrual phase compared to secretory phase but not the proliferative phase. On the other hand, patients with endometriosis showed higher levels compared to those without endometriosis. No associations were observed in MT1-MMP levels and different clinical characteristics associated with endometriosis. These findings suggest that MT1-MMP levels in serum samples of endometriosis patient’s might be dysregulated, however further experiments are necessary to elucidate the facts.
