Dynamic changes of matrix metalloproteinases in rat liver during the development of diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the dynamic changes of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the liver of rat during experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry, gelatin zymography, and reverse transcriptase-PCR were used for detection of latent and active forms and mRNA of MMPs in each phases of carcinogenic stages. RESULTS: MMPs expression was detected in normal and cirrhotic liver, which was most obvious in the cancer cells after the development of hepatic carcinoma. Normal tissue showed only low levels of MMPs expression, which kept increasing in the course of hepatocarcinogenesis, as was also the case with the corresponding mRNA. CONCLUSION: Transcription and expression of MMPs keep increasing throughout the the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.