Expression And Correlation Of MMP-9and VEGF In The Aggressive And Quiescent Period Of Pterygium

Objective:To study on the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in pterygium, discus the correlation of them, and to study the function of MMP-9and VEGF in the progress of pterygium.Methods:Using the technique of immuno-histochemistry, we compared the different expression of MMP-9and VEGF between the aggressive and quiescent period of human pterygium.Results:The positive expression of MMP-9in Pterygium tissue was brown yellow particles, mainly located in pterygium tissue cell membrane,cytoplasm also had dyeing, advanced brown granules were distributed throughout the cytoplasm and nuclear membrane surrounding.The mean rank of MMP-9in the Pterygium group was28.50, the mean rank of MMP-9in the normal conjunctival group was13.50, which indicated the MMP-9expression in the pterygium group was intensity higher than in the normal conjunctival group(P=0.001). The mean rank of MMP-9in the pterygium progressive stage was12.29, and in the quiescent period group was5.50, which indicated the MMP-9expression in the pterygium progressive stage was higher than in the quiescent period group(P=0.033).The positive expression of VEGF in Pterygium tissue was also with a brown granules, located in pterygium epithelial, interstitial endothelial cells and vascular wall in advance, and the quiescent period of cortical expression of positive. The mean rank of VEGF in the pterygium group was28.61, the mean rank of VEGF in the normal conjunctival group was13.05, which indicated that the VEGF expression in the pterygium group was intensity higher than in the normal conjunctival group(P=0.001). The mean rank of VEGF in the pterygium progressive stage was14.93, and in the quiescent period group was7.50, which indicated the VEGF expression in the pterygium progressive stage was higher than in the quiescent period group (P=0.037).There were no significant difference between MMP-9and VEGF for the diagnosis of pterygium (P=0.727), kappa=0.436, P=0.010,which indicated that MMP-9and VEGF has much certain positive correlation.Conclusions:VEGF and MMP-9were closely linked and play an very important role in the occurrence and development of pterygium.