Association of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 mRNA Expression with Subtypes of Pediatric Cholesteatoma

Figure 4

Box-and-whisker plot showing MMP2 mRNA expression levels in cholesteatomas. The MMP2 mRNA expression level was quantified as the average number of DAB signal puncta per cell using Vectra 3 (PerkinElmer Co, Waltham, MA). The signals and cells within the shooting range were automatically counted. The average numbers between subtypes of cholesteatoma and normal skin were compared using the Mann–Whitney test, and values are presented as a box-and-whisker plot. The means with standard error of the means (SEM) are shown for each group. (a) A comparison of MMP2 mRNA expression levels in congenital cholesteatoma, acquired cholesteatoma, and normal skin from the accessory ear (shown with control). There was no significant difference in the mRNA expression level of MMP2 between congenital cholesteatoma and acquired cholesteatoma. Congenital cholesteatoma and acquired cholesteatoma had significantly higher MMP2 mRNA expression levels than the normal skin ( and , respectively). (b) A comparison of MMP2 mRNA expression levels between closed and open types of congenital cholesteatoma. The open type had higher MMP2 mRNA expression levels than the closed type () and normal skin (). No significant difference was observed between the closed type and normal skin. (c) A comparison of MMP2 mRNA expression levels between the pars flaccida and pars tensa types of acquired cholesteatoma. The pars tensa type had significantly higher MMP2 mRNA expression levels than the pars flaccida type () and normal skin (). No significant difference was observed between the pars flaccida type and normal skin.

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