Submission Number: IZH-4-12-6

Abstract Number: 322

MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES ARE EXPRESSED DIFFERENTLY IN GRANULOSA CELLS FROM WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN DISEASE.

I Ben-Shlomo*, S Goldman* and E Shalev*

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HaEmek Medical Centre, Afula, and the Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel ¹

Abstract:
The polycystic ovary disease (PCOD) portrays follicular atresia and formation of cysts. Follicular development, ovulation, formation and regression of corpus luteum involve extensive tissue remodeling. Mammalian ovaries express a number of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). We set out to evaluate possible differences in the production of MMPs and TIMPs in media conditioned by granulosa cells from women with PCOD and normal ovulatory women. Follicular fluid from women with PCOD contained higher levels of MMPs 2 and 9 compared to normal women. Media conditioned by granulosa cells from women with PCOD had significantly higher levels of gelatin-degrading activity, corresponding to molecular weights of 92kD (MMP-9) and 72kD (MMP-2), as compared with granulosa cells from normal patients (31912475 and 1596527 vs 571 274 and 26067, respectively, P<0.05). Similar results were obtained by Western blot analysis. The secretion of MMP-9 from PCOD granulosa cells was significantly higher than from normal granulosa cells (39481469 vs 13531438, P<0.05). During 96 hours of incubation the levels of MMP 9 and MMP-2 increased slightly in the media conditioned by normal granulosa cells, and increased significantly in the media conditioned by PCOD granulosa cells (1222280 and 1044219 vs 60501037 and 30541578, P<0.05). TIMP 1 production was similar in both types of women (3887653 and 3696715). After 96 hours its levels increased only in medium conditioned by PCOD cells (3179112 vs 5597743, respectively, P<0.05). MMPs and their inhibitors are expressed differently in women with PCOD.

Keywords: Polycystic ovarian disease, Matrix metalloproteinases, Tissue inhibitors of MMP

This abstract is being presented at: 8:00 AM in session:
Gonadal Function