Objective    To investigate the expressions and significances of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN)

the matrix metalloproteinases-2

-9 (MMP-2

-9)

and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in endometriosis (EM).     Methods    The expressions of the EMMPRIN

MMP-2

MMP-9 and VEGF were detected by SABC immunohistochemistry in 57 tissue samples of ectopic endometrium and 51 samples of eutopic endometrium obtained from 57 EM patients

and in 48 normal endometrium from patients with nonendometriosis. Correlation analysis was carried out on the expressions of these proteins and pathologic staging.     Results    The EMMPRIN

MMP-2

MMP-9 and VEGF in ectopic endometrium were expressed at significantly higher levels (0.723±0.114

0.729±0.109

0.692±0.089

0.704±0.103

respectively) than those in eutopic endometrium group (0.396±0.097

0.365±0.023

0.349±0.030

0.370±0.129

respectively

P0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that positive correlation were found between the EMMPRIN

MMP-2

MMP-9 and VEGF in ectopic endometrium group (P0.05). The expression levels of the EMMPRIN

MMP-2

MMP-9 and VEGF in the stages of Ⅲ to Ⅳ (0.780±0.058

0.779±0.064

0.736±0.050

0.749±0.059

respectively) were significantly higher than those in Ⅰ to Ⅱ (0.563±0.070

0.588±0.079

0.570±0.051

0.580±0.100

respectively) in ectopic endometrium group (P0.05). The MMP-2 in eutopic endometrium group had significantly higher levels than the control group (P0.05).     Conclusion    EMMPRIN

MMPs and VEGF are expressed highly in ectopic endometrium. The up-regulation of EMMPRIN-MMPs-VEGF system may play an important role in ectopic endometrium planting and invasion of EM.