EXPRESSION OF INTERSTITIAL COLLAGENASE (MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-1) IS RELATED TO THE ACTIVITY OF HUMAN ENDOMETRIOTIC LESIONS

Objective: To determine whether interstitial collagenase (matrix metal loproteinase-1), known to play a pivotal role in the initiation of men struation, contributes to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Design: S erial sections of peritoneal red and black endometriotic lesions, ovar ian endometriotic cysts, and rectovaginal adenomyotic nodules were ana lyzed by in situ hybridization for the expression of matrix metallopro teinase-1 by silver staining for the integrity of the fibrillar extrac ellular matrix and by immunolabeling for the abundance of sex steroid receptors. Setting: Academic hospital and research laboratory. Patient (s): Premenopausal women undergoing laparoscopy for endometriosis. Int ervention(s): Biopsy of endometriotic lesions, combined with endometri um whenever possible. Main Outcome Measure(s): Expression of matrix me talloproteinase-1 messenger BNA (mRNA). Result(s): Matrix metalloprote inase-1 mRNA was expressed focally in red peritoneal and ovarian endom etriosis irrespective of the phase of the menstrual cycle but was not detectable in black peritoneal and rectovaginal lesions. Foci of matri x metalloproteinase-1 expression closely correlated with matrix breakd own and with the absence of P receptors in adjacent epithelial cells. Conclusion(s): Correlation of matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression wi th activity of endometriotic tissue suggests its involvement in tissue remodeling and bleeding, and possibly in the secondary shedding and r eimplantation of endometriotic lesions. (C) 1997 by American Society f or Reproductive Medicine.