Increasing of matrix metalloproteinase 3 in bovine endometritis

Matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), a key member of the MMPs family, is involved in the modulation of endometrial inflammation and innate immunity. However, the role of MMP3 in bovine endometritis remains unknown. To investigate the role of MMP3 in bovine endometritis, endometrial MMP3 expression were determined in uterine biopsies from twenty 40–60 days postpartum dairy cows, which six were healthy cows and fourteen were endometritic cows. Moreover, MMP3 expression were also detected at different intensity of inflammatory response, which was induced by graded concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10 μg/ml) of LPS in bovine endometrial epithelial cells (BEECs) in vitro. RT-qPCR was used to test the mRNA levels of MMP3 in tissues or cells. Western blot was conducted to measure protein levels, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for TNF-α and IL-1β in cell supernatant. Results showed that MMP3 mRNA and protein levels significantly increased and positive correlative with severity of endometritis in vivo. Likewise, MMP3 expression also positive correlative with intensity of LPS inflammatory response in BEECs in vitro. These results indicate that increasing of MMP3 directly correlates with bovine endometritis, and its increasing may contribute to progression of bovine endometritis. •Gene and protein levels of MMP3 were up-regulated in bovine endometrium with endometritis.•Increasing of MMP3 were positive correlative with severity of bovine endometritis.•Elevated MMP3 was positive correlative with inflammatory intensity in bovine endometrial epithelial cells induced by LPS.