Collagenase-1 (MMP-1), matrilysin-1 (MMP-7), and stromelysin-2 (MMP-10) are expressed by migrating enterocytes during intestinal wound healing.

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a crucial role in wound healing of the skin, airways, and cornea, but data on MMPs in normal intestinal wound healing is limited. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of collagenase-1 (MMP-1), matrilysin-1 (MMP-7), and stromelysin-2 (MMP-10) in intestinal wound repair and to determine the effect of cytokines on the expression of these MMPs in intestinal epithelial cell lines. METHODS: Surgical specimens from patients with ischemic colitis (n = 5) were used as an in vivo model of intestinal re-epithelialization. Fetal ileal explants were used as an ex vivo model. In situ hybridization for MMPs -1, -3, -7, and -10 was performed and immunohistochemical stainings were used to localize MMP-7 and -9 expressing cells. Stainings for cytokeratin and laminin-5 were performed to identify epithelial cells and migrating enterocytes, respectively. Caco-2, HT-29, and WiDr cell lines were treated for 6-48 h with different cytokines (e.g. EGF, KGF, IL-1 beta, TGF-alpha, TNF-alpha, and TGF-beta1) and Taqman real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to investigate their effect on the expression of MMPs-1, -7, and -10. RESULTS: MMP-7, MMP-10, and MMP-1 were expressed by migrating enterocytes bordering intestinal ulcers in 5/5, 3/5, and 3/5 samples, respectively. In the fetal gut model, MMP-1 and MMP-10 were expressed by migrating enterocytes, but matrilysin-1 expression was not detected. Matrilysin-1 was up-regulated by TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta, and stromelysin-2 by TNF-alpha and EGF in Caco-2 and WiDr cell cultures. MMP-1 was up-regulated in Caco-2 cells by TGF-beta, EGF, and IL-1 beta, but only by EGF in WiDR cells. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that collagenase-1, stromelysin-2, and matrilysin-1 are involved in intestinal re-epithelialization in vivo and that they are up-regulated by cytokines relevant in wound repair.

Differential expression of three matrix metalloproteinases, MMP-19, MMP-26, and MMP-28, in normal and inflamed intestine and colon cancer.

Several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in intestinal inflammation, mucosal wound healing, and cancer progression. The purpose of this study was to examine the cellular location and putative function of MMP-19, MMP-26 (matrilysin-2), and MMP-28 (epilysin), in normal, inflammatory, and malignant conditions of the intestine. Peroperative tissue specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 16) and archival tissue samples of ischemic colitis (n = 9), Crohn's disease (n = 7), UC (n = 8), colon cancer (n = 20), and healthy intestine (n = 5) were examined using immunohistochemical analyses with polyclonal antibodies. Unlike many classical MMPs, MMP-19, MMP-26, and MMP-28 were all expressed in normal intestine. In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), MMP- 19 was expressed in nonmigrating enterocytes and shedding epithelium. MMP-26 was detected in migrating enterocytes, unlike MMP-28. In colon carcinomas, MMP-19 and MMP-28 expression was downregulated in tumor epithelium. Staining for MMP-26 revealed a meshwork-like pattern between cancer islets, which was absent from most dedifferentiated areas. Our results suggest that MMP-19 is involved in epithelial proliferation and MMP-26 in enterocyte migration, while MMP-28 expression is not associated with inflammatory and destructive changes seen in IBD. In contrast to many previously characterized MMPs, MMP-19 and MMP-28 are downregulated during malignant transformation of the colon and may play a prominent role in tissue homeostasis.

Overexpression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 in intestinal and cutaneous lesions of graft-versus-host disease.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the pathobiology of various T-cell-mediated inflammatory disorders of the intestine and skin. Their synthetic inhibitor has been shown to prevent lethal acute graft-versus-host disease in animal models. We intended to determine the expression of MMPs 1, 3, 7, 9, 10, 12, and 19 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) 1 and 3 in intestinal and cutaneous lesions of patients suffering from graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation. In situ hybridizations for MMPs 1, 3, 7, 10, and 12 as well as TIMPs 1 and 3 were performed using (35)S-labeled cRNA probes on intestinal (n = 13) and cutaneous specimens (n = 9) from patients with graft-versus-host disease. Immunohistochemical stainings were carried out to localize MMP-9, MMP-19, TIMP-3, and TGF-beta1 proteins, and TUNEL staining, to detect apoptotic cells. TIMP-3 mRNA and protein were detected in cutaneous lesions in areas with vacuolar degeneration of the basal epidermal layer in all skin samples, and they colocalized with apoptotic keratinocytes and partly with staining for TGF-beta. None of the MMPs examined were overexpressed in skin lesions. Signals for MMP-1 and MMP-3 mRNA was found in 10/13 and 5/13 intestinal biopsies, respectively. In the gut, MMP-19-positive epithelial cells, particularly in the crypts, were found in 10/13 samples. Expression of MMPs 7, 9, 10, and 12 was absent or very low. TIMPs 1 and 3 were expressed by stromal cells in 12/13 and 10/13 gut samples, respectively. Whereas TIMP-1 was expressed particularly by subepithelial cells where epithelium had shed away, TIMP-3 was detected in deeper areas. We conclude that MMPs are differentially regulated in the skin and gut lesions of graft-versus-host disease. In agreement with previous data on cancer cells, TIMP-3, induced by TGF-beta1, may contribute to the apoptosis of keratinocytes in cutaneous graft-versus-host disease lesions, leading to typical histopathological changes. We also conclude that MMPs play a less important role as effector molecules in intestinal graft-versus-host disease than in celiac or inflammatory bowel disease.

Upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases in a model of T cell mediated tissue injury in the gut: analysis by gene array and in situ hybridisation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in tissue remodelling and ulceration in inflammatory bowel disease and coeliac disease. Studies to date have concluded that stromelysin 1 is functionally involved in mucosal degradation. However, there are many other MMPs whose function in the gut is currently unknown. This work had two aims: firstly, to use gene array technology to measure changes in MMP and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) expression in a model of T cell mediated injury in the gut, and secondly, to correlate data from gene arrays with that generated by in situ hybridisation. METHODS: T cells in explants of human fetal gut were activated with pokeweed mitogen or anti-CD3 plus interleukin 12. Gene array analysis and in situ hybridisation were performed to investigate changes in MMP gene expression. RESULTS: Both gene array analysis and in situ hybridisation indicated marked upregulation of stromelysin 2 and macrophage metalloelastase expression in the explants associated with mucosal destruction. The arrays also confirmed our previous observation that interstitial collagenase (MMP-1), stromelysin 1 (MMP-3), and gelatinase B (MMP-9) are upregulated but there was no change in MMP-2, -7, -8, -9, -11, -13, -14-17, or -19. Following T cell activation, transcripts for TIMPs were reduced. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that there is differential upregulation of MMPs during T cell responses in the gut and suggest that further studies on the role of stromelysin 2 and macrophage metalloelastase may show that they have a functional role. In addition, the increase in MMPs and reduction in TIMPs suggest that the protease/antiprotease balance in the mucosa may determine the extent of mucosal degradation.

Upregulation and differential expression of matrilysin (MMP-7) and metalloelastase (MMP-12) and their inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-3 in Barrett's oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is believed to arise from metaplastic mucosa in the distal oesophagus, a condition also known as Barrett's oesophagus (BE). BE develops as a result of injury caused by refluxing gastric and duodenal contents and is associated with increased risk of malignant transformation. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in all aspects of tumour progression; tumour growth, basement membrane degradation, invasion and metastatic spread. Using in situ hybridization, we investigated the expression patterns of collagenases-1 and -3, stromelysin-2, matrilysin, metalloelastase and TIMPs-1 and -3 in BE, adenocarcinoma and lymph-node metastases. Matrilysin was expressed abundantly in 12/15 tumours and in 4/6 lymph-node metastases and its expression correlated with the histological aggressiveness of tumour. Matrilysin and metalloelastase were upregulated already in BE. Stromelysin-2 and collagenase-3 expression was detected only in a few tumours. Collagenase-1 was expressed by cancer and stromal cells in 9/15 tumours. Tumour-infiltrating macrophages expressed metalloelastase in 13/15 cancers. TIMPs-1 and -3 were expressed in 12/15 and 11/15 tumours, respectively. Laminin-5 and tenascin were abundantly expressed at the invasive front of poorly differentiated tumours, but not in BE. Our results indicate that matrilysin is the principal MMP expressed by tumour cells in oesophageal adenocarcinoma, and further studies are needed to investigate whether matrilysin or tenascin-C could be used as a predictive marker for progression of BE to cancer.

Parallel expression of macrophage metalloelastase (MMP-12) in duodenal and skin lesions of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis.

BACKGROUND: Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a specific dermatological manifestation of coeliac disease and 80% of DH patients have gluten sensitive enteropathy manifested by crypt hyperplasia and villous atrophy. Matrix degradation mediated by collagenase 1 (MMP-1) and stromelysin 1 (MMP-3) has previously been implicated in the pathobiology of coeliac intestine and cutaneous DH blisters. AIMS: To study expression of stromelysin 2, metalloelastase, collagenase 3, and matrilysin in the intestine and skin of DH patients. METHODS: In situ hybridisation using 35S labelled cRNA probes was performed on duodenal biopsies of 15 DH patients, three samples each of control duodenal or jejunal mucosa, fetal ileal explants, lesional DH skin, and 19 serial biopsies of experimental DH blisters. Immunostaining was used to examine type IV collagen, macrophages (CD68), and 92 kDa gelatinase (MMP-9) in the specimens. RESULTS: Metalloelastase (MMP-12) was abundantly expressed by subepithelial macrophages in both coeliac intestine and spontaneous and induced DH rash. It was also upregulated in the experimental model of coeliac disease (staphylococcal endotoxin B stimulated fetal explants). The only other MMP detected was MMP-9 which did not colocalise with MMP-12. CONCLUSIONS: Upregulation of metalloelastase is associated with T cell mediated immune responses both in the intestine and skin. In addition to modulating macrophage migration, it may contribute to degradation of proteoglycans or basement membrane components in the subepithelial mucosa.

Ligation of alpha4ss1 integrin on human intestinal mucosal mesenchymal cells selectively Up-regulates membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase and confers a migratory phenotype.

Human intestinal lamina propria mesenchymal cells show high surface expression of the alpha4ss1 integrin. Ligation of alpha4ss1 on mesenchymal cell lines with an activating monoclonal anti-alpha4 antibody or vascular cell adhesion molecule-immunoglobulin (VCAM-IgG) leads to the appearance of activated forms of gelatinase A in culture supernatants, and the de novo expression of activated membrane type-1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP). In functional assays, signaling through alpha4ss1 results in an increased capacity of mesenchymal cells to migrate through an artificial extracellular matrix, an effect inhibitable by excess tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2. In organ cultures of human intestine, VCAM-IgG also up-regulates MT1-MMP, and in mucosal ulcers of inflammatory bowel disease patients, MT1-MMP transcripts are abundant, coincident with expression of VCAM-1 on cells at the ulcer margin. Collectively these results suggest that alpha4ss1-induced up-regulation of MT1-MMP may be a crucial factor in the migration of mesenchymal cells into ulcer beds during restitution of diseased gut mucosa.