title: Does matrix metalloproteinase activity predict severity of acute pancreatitis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) modulate end-organ complications of acute pancreatitis, but the correlation between increased MMP production and histological severity of disease remains unclear. We examined the role of MMP and pancreas histology on experimental acute pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male Wistar albino rats were subjected to cerulein-induced pancreatitis (8, 16, 24 and 32 h groups) or sham treatment. The animals were killed at different time points and pancreatic tissues were harvested to assess MMP (1, 2 and 9) activity and inflammatory changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with other groups, 8 h group had decreased tissue MMP-1 concentrations. MMP-9 concentrations were lower in 24-h and 32-h groups, as were histological severity scores. MMP-2 activity did not differ among groups. Pancreatitis was prominent in 8-h, 16-h and 24-h groups by means of histology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Induction of pancreatitis by cerulein altered pancreatic MMP levels in the early phase of inflammation. Inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 paralleled histological scores. Therefore, MMP may have a predictive value to assess histological severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aynaci
authors.forename: Pars
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tuncyurek
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nart
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeytunlu
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozutemiz
authors.forename: Galip
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ersoz
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coker
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000201:enzymology*; D011379:Prognosis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases