Expression of the matrix metalloproteinase 9 in Hodgkin's disease is independent of EBV status
- J R Flavell1,
- K R N Baumforth1,
- D M Williams2,
- M Lukesova3,
- J Madarova3,
- V Noskova3,
- J Prochazkova3,
- D Lowe1,
- Z Kolar3,
- P G Murray1,
- P N Nelson1
- 1Biomedical Science Research Laboratories, School of Health Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1DJ, UK
- 2CRC Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TJ, UK
- 3Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, and Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Centre of Molecular Biology and Medicine (CMBM), Palacky University, Olomouc, CZ-77515, Czech Republic
- Dr Nelson email: P.N.NELSON{at}wlv.ac.uk
- Accepted 15 February 2000
Abstract
Background—In vitro the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) has been shown to upregulate expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), a member of a family of zinc dependent endopeptidases that is believed to facilitate tumour invasion and metastasis by degradation of the extracellular matrix.
Aim—To test whether the expression of MMP-9 in Hodgkin's disease correlates with EBV status and survival and to investigate whether LMP-1 expression affects MMP-9 concentrations in the Hodgkin's disease cell line, L428.
Methods—MMP-9 expression was measured by means of immunohistochemistry in a series of Hodgkin's disease tumours and this expression was correlated with EBV status and survival. The influence of LMP-1 on MMP-9 expression was also investigated in the Hodgkin's disease cell line, L428.
Results—MMP-9 expression was demonstrated in the malignant Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells of all (n = 86) formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded Hodgkin's disease tumours examined. Although the intensity of MMP-9 immunostaining varied between cases, there was no correlation between MMP-9 expression and EBV status or survival. MMP-9 expression was also detected in a variety of non-malignant cells, including fibroblasts. MMP-9 was detected by zymography in the L428 and KMH2 Hodgkin's disease cell lines, whereas low or undetectable amounts of MMP-9 were found in the L591 Hodgkin's disease cell line. Induction of LMP-1 expression in the Hodgkin's disease cell line L428 did not result in a detectable increase in the values of MMP-9 as measured by zymography.
Conclusions—These results demonstrate that MMP-9 is consistently expressed by the Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease tumours and by the Hodgkin's disease cell lines, L428 and KMH2. However, this expression does not appear to be related either to LMP-1 values or to survival.
