Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2001 Jun;44(6):572-575.

Expresion of Collagenase-3 (Matrix Metalloproteinase-13) in human middle ear cholesteatoma and granulation

• Chi J
• Park JY
• Kim J
• Rho YS
• Lim HJ

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Middle ear cholesteatoma is notorious for its capacity to absorb surrounding bone, but the exact mechanism of bone destruction is not fully understood until now. Recently, a group of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were found to dissolve extracellular matrices. Among them, collagenase-3 (MMP-13), a newly found collagenase, is thought to be a strong enzyme to dissolve bone and cartilage. So we tried to find out whether Collagenase-3 is found in cholesteatoma and plays some role in bone destruction by cholesteatoma. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We performed immunohistochemical stains on 5 cholesteatomas, 5 middle ear granulations, 5 normal middle ear mucosa and 5 deep meatal skin specimens with anticollagenase-3 antibody and analysed the staining patterns.
RESULTS
All the cholesteatomas showed strong immunoreactivity with collagenase-3. Two out of 5 granulations showed somewhat weaker and more disseminated patterns of immunoreactivity, but the rest 3 granulations showed no immunoreactivity. Normal middle ear mucosa and deep meatal skin specimens showed no immunoreactivity at all.
CONCLUSIONS
Collagenase-3 may play an active role in the process of bone destruction by cholesteatoma; however, a further study using zymography or blotting method is needed to make this clear.

Keyword

Cholesteatoma; Collagenase

MeSH Terms

Cartilage
Cholesteatoma
Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear*
Collagenases
Coloring Agents
Ear, Middle*
Extracellular Matrix
Humans*
Matrix Metalloproteinase 13*
Matrix Metalloproteinases
Mucous Membrane
Skin
Collagenases
Coloring Agents
Matrix Metalloproteinase 13
Matrix Metalloproteinases