[Expressions of MMP-7 and TIMP-1 in Chronic Stomach Disease Patients with Different Syndromes of Chinese Medicine].

Abstract

Objective To observe the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1 ) in chronic stomach disease patients with different syn- dromes of Chinese medicine (CM) , and their relationships with Helicobacter pylori ( Hp ) infection. Meth- ods Totally 117 chronic stomach disease patients were recruited, and 11 healthy volunteers were also recruited. Chronic stomach disease patients were assigned to Pi-Wei dampness-heat syndrome (PWDHS, 57 cases) , disharmony of Gan and Wei syndrome (DGWS, 30 cases) , and Pi qi deficiency syndrome (PQDS, 30 cases) by syndrome typing. Healthy volunteers were recruited as the healthy con- trol group. Hp infection was detected using methylene blue dyeing and rapid urease test (RUT). The degree of inflammation was observed by conventional HE staining. The protein expressions of MMP-7 and TIMP-1 were detected qualitatively and positioningly using immunohistochemical method. Results Patients with PWDHS and patients with DGWS had equivalent Hp infection rate and degree. They showed a slightly increasing tendency than patients with PQDS, but with no statistical difference (P >0. 05). Com- pared with PWDHS and PQDS groups, more severe inflammation of mucosa occurred in patients with DG- WS (P <0. 05). More severe inflammation of mucosa occurred in patients with PWDHS than in those with PQDS, but with no statistical difference (P >0. 05). The severity of gastric mucosal inflammatory activity was sequenced from high to low as PWDHS, DGWS, PQDS, all with statistical difference (P <0. 05). Compared with Hp negative patients, the gastric mucosal inflammatory activity was more severe in Hp positive patients with PWDHS, DGWS, PQDS. The gastric mucosal inflammatory activity was more se- vere in Hp positive patients with PWDHS and PQDS (P <0. 05). Compared with the healthy control group, the expression level of TIMP-1 in gastric mucosa increased in patients with PWDHS, DGWS, PQDS (P <0. 05, P <0. 01) ; the expression level of MMP-7 increased in Hp negative patients with PWDHS (P < 0. 05). Compared with Hp negative patients with PWDHS, the expression level of MMP-7 decreased in Hp positive patients with PWDHS (P <0. 05). Compared with the PQDS group, the expression level of TIMP-1 decreased in the PWDHS group (P <0. 01). The severity of gastric mucosal inflammation was negatively correlated with the expression level of MMP-7, and positively correlated with the expression level of TIMP- 1 (P <0. 01). Hp infection degree was not obviously correlated with the expression level of MMP-7 in gastric mucosa (P >0. 05) , but positively correlated with the expression level of TIMP-1 in gastric mucosa (P <0. 05). Of them, the expression level of MMP-7 in gastric mucosa was positively correlated with the expression level of TIMP-1 in gastric mucosa (P <0. 01). Conclusions Comparatively lower expression of MMP-7 in gastric mucosal inflammation and imbalanced expression of TIMP-1 might be two of the pathogeneses of chronic stomach disease. Their various expressions in different CM syndromes might have certain expositions for microscopic research on "different syndromes of the same disease". Emotional fluctuation might also be one of important factors for chronic stomach disease.