The aim of this study was to explore the effect of matrix metalloproteinases 9(MMP-9) on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in diabetic wound.

Between July 2014 and July 2015, patients were enrolled in Liyuan Hospital, Affiliated of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 19 cases of patients with diabetic foot, and 7 cases of orthopaedic patients without diabetes. A total of 26 patients were recruited and were divided into four groups: patients with diabetic foot wound with a large number of bacteria >1×10⁶/g tissue for 7 cases of group A, patients with diabetic foot wound with a small number of bacteria<1×10⁶ a/g tissue for 12 cases of group B, diabetes without wound tissue (from diabetic foot ulcers and skin edge was greater than 2 cm) for 6 cases of group C, orthopaedic patients without diabetes for 7 cases of group D. Biopsies were evaluated by both RT-qPCR and Western Blot to assess the levels of MMP-9 and VEGF.Differences between groups with single factor analysis of variance analysis and Scheffe test, comparison between the two groups used q test.

The relative expression of MMP-9 in group A, B, C, D were 1.14±0.12, 0.60±0.08, 0.39±0.09, 0.13±0.06, differences between the four groups were in a decreasing trend (F=43.92, P<0.05). The relative expression levels of VEGF in group A, B, C, D were 1.01±0.22, 3.55±0.97, 5.72±0.55, 6.92±1.55, the difference between the four groups showed an ascending tendency (F=40.74, P<0.05). The results of western Blot test were consistent with the results of RT-PCR.

The expression of MMP-9 increased in different diabete wound tissue, and the expression of VEGF decreased.