Clinical Study Of MMP-2, MMP-9and Collagen In Lower Limb Varicose Veins

Objective To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2and matrixmetalloproteinase-9in varicose veins, and their relationships with clinical stages, andthe changes of total collagen in varicose veins, and their significance.Methods We Choose simple and primary varicose veins patients，who were diagnosedby color Doppler ultrasound, venography or other examination.The expression ofMMP-2and MMP-9was examined by immunohistochemistry SP methods in varicoseveins and normal veins, detecting the total collagen using Masson staining in varicoseveins and normal veins, chi-square test, variance analysis and T-test was used forstatistical analysis.Results1. The expression of MMP-2was detected both in tunica intimal, median andexterna of the normal saphenous vein, C₁-C₃terms varicose veins and C₄-C₆terms varicose veins. The positive expression of MMP-2in C₁-C₃group andC₄-C₆group were significantly higher than the control group （P <0.05）, thepositive expression of MMP-2was significantly higher in C₄-C₆stages thanC₁-C₃stages （P <0.05）. The difference has statistically significance.2. MMP-9has only a small amount of expression in the normal vein wall, mainlydistributing in the tunica media,and has lots of expression in the intimal,median layers in C₁-C₃group and C₄-C₆group, the intensity was much higherthan the control group （P <0.05）. The difference has statistically significance. 3. The collagen was obvious increased in varicose veins than normal veins （P<0.05）, Mainly concentrated in the intimal and medial. The difference hasstatistically significance.Conclusion1. MMP-2and-9were expressed both in normal veins and varicose veins, but thepositive expression rate in varicose veins was significantly higher than thatinnormal veins（P<0.05）, the positive expression of MMP-2and-9wassignificantly higher in C₄-C₆stages than C₁-C₃stages, the expression of MMPspartly reflects the severity of CVI. MMP-2and MMP-9expression wasinvolved in the veins remodeling.2. The collagen increasing in the wall was involving in remodeling of varicoseveins, which deposited in the intima and media layers.