Expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-7 and matrix metalloproteinase-14 associated with the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 in human brain gliomas of different pathological grades

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the expressions of MMP-7 and MMP-14 are associated with the ERK 1/2 signaling pathway in human brain gliomas of different pathological grades. Immunohistochemistry and western blot methods were used to determine the expressions of MMP-7, MMP-14 and the phosphorylation status of ERK1/2 in 73 cases of human brain glioma specimens and two cases of normal brain tissues. Results indicated that the protein expression levels of MMP-7, MMP-14 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation level were all elevated with the increasing pathological grades in brain glioma tissues, and correlation assay indicated that the level of ERK1/2 phosphorylation was positively correlated with protein expression levels of MMP-7 and MMP-14 in gliomas of different pathological grades respectively. Moreover, the impact of ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 on the expressions of MMP-7 and MMP-14 was examined in human U87 glioma cells by western blot analysis. The expressions of MMP-7 and MMP-14 were significantly decreased in human U87 glioma cells after treatment with ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126. The above results suggest that the expressions of MMP-7 and MMP-14 may be associated with activation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway in human brain gliomas of different pathological grades.