Expressions of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-7, and MMP-9) and Their Inhibitors (TIMP-1, TIMP-2) in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Figure 1

Immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in glandular tubes and inflammatory cells in tissues of ulcerative colitis () and Crohn’s disease (). MMP-2 expression was weak in glandular tubes in patients with UC and positive reaction of this protein in inflammatory cells of CD (a, b). The positive expression of MMP-7 in glandular cells in both diseases, but there is more frequent expression observed in stroma of CD (c, d). Moreover, MMP-9 reaction was strong positive in glandular epithelium of UC and moderate in the stromal cells of CD patients (e, f). The strong expression of TIMP-1 in glandular cells and inflammatory infiltrate in both diseases compared to lack of or weak reaction of TIMP-2 protein (g, h, i, and j).