title: Matrix metalloproteinase-7 is expressed by pancreatic cancer precursors and regulates acinar-to-ductal metaplasia in exocrine pancreas.
abstract: In gastrointestinal epithelium, metaplastic conversion between predominant cell types is associated with an increased risk of neoplasia. However, the mechanisms regulating metaplastic transitions in adult epithelia are largely undefined. Here we show that matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) is expressed not only in the majority of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma specimens, but also in human pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and metaplastic duct lesions in human and mouse. In a mouse model of pancreatic acinar-to-ductal metaplasia, MMP-7 progressively accumulates during the metaplastic transition, resulting in a concomitant increase in solubilization of Fas ligand (FasL). Under identical conditions, mice either deficient in MMP-7 or carrying an inactive FasL gene are severely inhibited in development of progressive metaplasia and acinar cell apoptosis. Thus, MMP-7 and FasL influence the initiation and maintenance of metaplastic events in pancreatic epithelium, explaining the observed link between metaplasia and apoptosis in pancreas and other gastrointestinal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. howard.crawford@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Howard C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Scoggins
authors.forename: M Kay
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Matrisian
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Leach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7