OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of gelatinase A (MMP2) in acute leukemic cells and its clinical implication. METHODS: The bone marrow samples from 46 acute leukemia patients were investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Gelatin Zymography method. Matrigel invasion assay was studied on U937, NB4, K562 and SHI1 cells in vitro. RESULTS: The expression of MMP2 was positive in 24 of 46 patients with AL (52.2%). In MMP2 positive and negative groups of AL, the extramedullary infiltration rates were 50.0% and 18.2% (P < 0.05), whilst the percentage of blast cell in peripheral white blood cells were (77.21 +/- 13.9)% and (62.95 +/- 17.2)% (P < 0.01), respectively. The positive expression of TIMP2 and MT1-MMP in 46 AL patients were 27 (58.7%) and 33 (71.7)%. The matrigel invasion assay suggested that MMP2 is involved in migration of leukemic cell through extracellular matrix (Matrigel). CONCLUSION: The active form of MMP2 might be essential to the egress of leukemic cells from bone marrow into peripheral blood, followed by an extramedullary infiltration.
OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of gelatinase A (MMP2) in acute leukemic cells and its clinical implication. METHODS: The bone marrow samples from 46 acute leukemiapatients were investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Gelatin Zymography method. Matrigel invasion assay was studied on U937, NB4, K562 and SHI1 cells in vitro. RESULTS: The expression of MMP2 was positive in 24 of 46 patients with AL (52.2%). In MMP2 positive and negative groups of AL, the extramedullary infiltration rates were 50.0% and 18.2% (P < 0.05), whilst the percentage of blast cell in peripheral white blood cells were (77.21 +/- 13.9)% and (62.95 +/- 17.2)% (P < 0.01), respectively. The positive expression of TIMP2 and MT1-MMP in 46 ALpatients were 27 (58.7%) and 33 (71.7)%. The matrigel invasion assay suggested that MMP2 is involved in migration of leukemic cell through extracellular matrix (Matrigel). CONCLUSION: The active form of MMP2 might be essential to the egress of leukemic cells from bone marrow into peripheral blood, followed by an extramedullary infiltration.