Immunohistochemical and Zymographical Expressions of Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in Bovine Papillomatous Digital Dermatitis

Abstract

Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) is an important health issue of dairy cattle. Painful papillomatous tissue proliferations are observed in hindfeet of affected animals. The pathogenesis of this papillomatous lesion in BDD is still poorly understood. Matrix metalloproteinases are agroup of enzymes for tissue remodeling in both health and disease. In the submitted study, immune expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9enzymes and their zymographic activities were evaluated. Skin samples were obtained from 10 healthy and 10 dairy Holstein frisean cattlefrom local slaughterhouse. Higher immune staining of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were found in BDD samples when compared with healthy skinsamples. The differences observed in MMP-2 and MMP-9 staining intensity and distributions were statistically significant (p< 0.05, p