Relation of matrixmetalloproteinases and infalammatory bowel disease

基质金属蛋白酶（Matrix metalloproteinase， MMP）-7，即基质溶素，与肿瘤的侵袭和转移以及肿瘤的发生或生长有关。在以往的报道中，对基质金属蛋白酶与自身免疫性疾病如类风湿关节炎的关系进行了研究。然而，基质金属蛋白酶在炎症性肠病中的作用尚未得到详细研究。本研究对几种基质金属蛋白酶和基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制剂（TIMP）在溃疡性结肠炎中的表达进行了免疫组化分析。无论是活检标本还是手术切除标本，MMP-2、MMP-3、MMP-9、TIMP-1和TIMP-2在溃疡性结肠炎炎症区均无显著上调/下调。有趣的是，在严重溃疡性结肠炎患者溃疡附近的上皮细胞中检测到基质溶素（MMP-7）。轻、中度上皮炎症区未见基质溶素表达。这些结果提示基质溶素可能参与溃疡性结肠炎炎症后的修复过程。

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, matrilysin, has been implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis as well as tumor initiation or growth. In previous reports, relation of matrix metalloproteinases and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis was investigated. However, matrix metalloproteinases in inflammatory bowel disease are not investigated in detail. In this study, several kinds of MMPs and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP) were immunohistochemically analyzed in, especially, ulcerative colitis. MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were not remarkably up/down regulated in inflammatory region of ulcerative colitis using both biopsied specimens or surgically resected specimens. Interestingly, matrilysin (MMP-7) was detected in the epithelial cells near ulceration in severe ulcerative colitis. However, inflammatory region of mild to moderate epithelia did not show matrilysin expression. These results suggest that the role of matrilysin might be involved in repair process after inflammation in ulcerative colitis.