Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in tissues with a diagnosis of childhood lymphoma

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are enzymes involved in the reconfiguration of the microenvironment by means of degrading the extracellular matrix and have more than 20 subgroups containing zinc. Proteins that serve as the inhibitors of these enzymes are called tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP). These enzymes have been shown to be active in a wide range of processes, from wound recovery to fetus development, heart diseases, and spread of malignant diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between the type, stage, and prognosis of childhood lymphoma subjects and matrix metalloproteinase type-9 (MMP-9) and its inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase type-1 (TIMP-1). Paraffin blocks of childhood patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 23), Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 14), or reactive lymphadenopathy (n = 12) were retrospectively immunohistochemically stained with MMP-9 and TIMP-1 stains and whether there was a relationship between the degree of staining and the type, tumor stage, and prognosis of the disease was investigated. Moderate and high degrees of MMP-9 staining were detected in 94.6% of the lymphoma patient tissues and a slight TIMP-1 staining was detected in 21.6% of the lymphoma patient tissues. No relationship was observed between the degree of these staining patterns and the type, tumor stage, and prognosis of the disease. This study indicates that the equilibrium between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 is important in lymphomas in addition to all the physiological and pathologic events although MMP-9 and the TIMP-1 staining patterns are not related to the tumor stage, prognosis, and type of the disease. Larger series of patients are needed to determine the prognostic value of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in childhood lymphoma.