There are increasing data on novel tumor markers such as GELATINASE A, which play a key role in tissue invasion and metastasis. Since prostate cancer is one of the common malignancies, we designed a simple and applicable Indirect Hemagglutination (IHA) test for determination of total GELATINASE A in serum samples. In this study, we have analyzed the circulating form of GELATINASE A (MMP-2) in patients suffering from either benign prostate hyperplasia (n= 54) or prostate cancer (n= 26) and normal individuals as control (n= 26). The gelatinolytic activity was determined by zymography followed by densitometric analysis. PSA was quantified by using a standard ELISA technique. Correlation of densitometric analysis of GELATINASE A activity and IHA titer was significant at 0.01 level (p< 0.01, r = 0.916). Correlation of PSA and IHA titer was significant at 0.01 level (p< 0.01, r = 0.746). Border line IHA titer in patients with prostate cancer was 512 ± 1 tube titer, in benign prostate hyperplasia patients was 128 ± 1 tube titer, and the titer in normal individuals was 8 ± 1 tube titer. These results demonstrate that IHA compared to zymography may be a better and simpler procedure in monitoring and screening patients with prostate cancer.

Background: GELATINASEs degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) components to allow for physiological remodeling and contribute to pathological tissue destruction in endometriosis. It is known that the function of GELATINASEs is resistant to suppression by progesterone in endometriosis. The ability of progesterone to impact gene expression depends on the progesterone receptor-A/-B (PR-A/PR-B) ratio. An imbalanced PR-A/PR-B ratio in endometriotic tissue may be the result of the differential expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which could be important in the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease. Hence, we decided to study the association of PR-A/PR-B ratio and GELATINASEs expression in endometriosis. Materials and Methods: In this prospective case-control study, we enrolled 40 women, 20 in the case group who were diagnosed with stage III/IV endometriosis and 20 normal subjects without endometriosis (controls) who referred to Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran during 2013-2014. We obtained 60 tissue samples [ectopic (n=20), eutopic (n=20), and normal endometrium (n=20)]. RNA was extracted from the tissue samples in order to analyze PR-A, PR-B, MMP-2, and MMP-9 mRNA levels through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: There was significantly lower expression of the PR-B isoform in ectopic tissues compared to the control (P=0. 002) and eutopic endometrium (P=0. 006) tissues. PR-A expression was higher, but not significantly so, in the same ectopic and eutopic endometrium tissues compared to the control tissues (P=0. 643). There was significant overexpression of MMP-9 in ectopic samples compared to control (P=0. 014) and eutopic endometrium (P=0. 012) samples. The PR-A/PR-B ratio was not significantly higher in either eutopic or ectopic samples compared to the control samples (P=0. 305). Conclusion: Our findings support an altered PR-B expression in endometriosis, which may be associated with MMP-9 overexpression. This finding can be important for disease pathogenesis.

Introduction: Diabetes results in the high prevalence of diabetes and the subsequent high incidence of nephropathy. However, there is no method with high sensitivity for the early detection of diabetic kidney disease. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the frequency of neutrophil GELATINASE-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy. Patients and Methods: Seventy-six diabetic patients who referred to the diabetes clinic of Tohid hospital were randomly selected and enrolled into this cross-sectional study. Patients with hypertension, primary and secondary glomerulopathy, every type of malignancy, infection, heart disease, pulmonary disease and other endocrine diseases, and significant renal failure (estimated glomerular filtration rate; eGFR≤ 30 mL/min) were excluded from the study. Demographic data were collected and the patients were divided into normal and abnormal groups based on the results of urine tests. Morning urine samples were then taken from the patients to measure creatinine, albumin, urine Alb/CR (albumin to creatinine) ratio and NGAL. Results: Of a total of 76 patients who were enrolled in the study, 39 persons (51. 3%) were female. The mean age of the participants was 59. 03 ± 11. 74 years. In addition, 64 patients (84. 2%) were in the normoalbuminuria group and 12 persons (15. 8%) were in the microalbuminuria group. Urinary NGAL level was significantly higher in the microalbuminuria group than in the normal group since the difference was significant (P < 0. 001). We found urinary NGAL level had no significant relationship with eGFR value and the duration of diabetes (P > 0. 05). There was also a relationship between urinary NGAL and urinary Alb/CR ratio levels (P = 0. 001). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed a relationship between urinary NGAL and urine Alb/CR ratio levels which could be used as a suitable biomarker in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy. Moreover, urinary NGAL level had no significant relationship with eGFR and the duration of diabetes.

Background: GELATINASE-B named MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9), is a protease that degrades collagen type ІV and V of extracellular matrix. MMP-9 production is increased in various types of cancers including leukemia and has an essential role in tumor invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. In this study, patterns of MMP-9 activity in a number of leukemic cells have been evaluated in-vitro.Materials and Methods: Human leukemic T cells (Jurkat and Molt-4) and monocyte (U937) were cultured in complete RPMI-1640 medium. Then the cells were seeded at a density of 106 cells/ml and were incubated with different concentrations of PMA (1-25ng/ml) or PHA (1-10 μg/ml) for 24 hours. Afterwards, MMP-9 activity and MMP-9 protein level in cell-conditioned media were evaluated by gelatin zymography and ECL Western blotting, respectively.Results: PHA/ PMA significantly induced MMP-9 activity in Molt-4 and Jurkat cells after 24-hour incubation in a dose-dependent manner compared with untreated control cells. Moreover, PHA/ PMA extensively and dose-dependently augmented MMP-9 activity in U937 cells after 24-hour incubation time compared with untreated control cells. Besides, PHA/ PMA increased MMP-9 level in U937 cells after 24-hour incubation time as was detected by western blotting compared with untreated control cells.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, human leukemic Jurkat, Molt-4, and U937 cells could exhibit MMP-9 activity with different extents. Among these cell lines, it seems that Molt-4 and U937 human leukemia cell lines, which greatly show MMP-9 activity after stimulation with PHA or PMA, may provide valuable tools for screening MMP enhancers or inhibitors and for assessment of regulatory mechanisms of MMP activity.