The role of stromal cells in the expression of interstitial collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-1) in the invasion of gastric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
In one of the steps of tumor invasion and metastasis, tumor cells must invade surrounding tissues and degrade the components of the basement membranes. Interstitial collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-1: MMP-1) has been also investigated in relation to cancer invasion and metastasis.


METHODS
We investigated the formation and mechanism of MMP-1 expression using gastric cancer cell lines and gastric fibroblasts derived from normal gastric mucosa by ELISA and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Production of MMP-1 protein in gastric fibroblasts was stimulated significantly by adding the conditioned medium of MKN-74. Localization of MMP-1 protein in the xenografted gastric cancer cell lines was heterogeneous according to different cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested that the production of MMP-1 protein in tumor invasion was regulated by interaction between stromal cells, particularly fibroblasts, and tumor cells.
Sakurai
Y
Y
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
Otani
Y
Y
Kameyama
K
K
Igarashi
N
N
Kubota
T
T
Kumai
K
K
Kitajima
M
M
D000818:Animals; D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D017364:Collagenases; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1