Expressions of MMPs and TIMP-1 in Gastric Ulcers May Differentiate H. pylori-Infected from NSAID-Related Ulcers

Table 2

The distributions of MMP-3, -7, and -9 and TIMP-1 net over different histologic locations of gastric ulcer tissues compared to non-ulcer tissues.

Net increase (𝑛, %)	Positive	Equal	Negative	P ^† value
Superficial epithelium
MMP-7	35 (27.8%)	70 (55.5%)	21 (16.7%)	0.023
MMP-9	49 (38.9%)	65 (51.6%)	12 (9.5%)	<0.001
TIMP-1	28 (22.2%)	87 (69.1%)	11 (8.7%)	0.005
Inflammatory cells of gastric lamina propria
MMP-3	43 (34.1%)	76 (60.3%)	7 (5.6%)	<0.001
MMP-9	75 (60.0%)	38 (30.4%)	12 (9.6%)	<0.001
TIMP-1	32 (25.4%)	86 (68.3%)	8 (6.3%)	<0.001

^†P values indicate the significant difference of higher MMP-3, -7, and -9 and TIMP-1 intensities on ulcer tissues compared to antral non-ulcer tissues (assessed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test).
MMP: matrix metalloproteinases; TIMP: tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase.