title: Potential role for matrix metalloproteinase-3 in gastric ulcer healing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases which perform important functions in extracellular matrix remodeling, cell proliferation, and inflammatory processes. Here, we compared MMP-3 levels with those of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and several inflammatory cytokines in gastric ulcer (GU) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study enrolled 50 patients with GU and 6 with functional dyspepsia (FD). Samples of gastric mucosa from the antrum and the ulcer site were harvested from GU patients and of antral mucosa alone from FD patients during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Mucosal biopsy tissues were cultured for 24 h, and the culture supernatant was measured for levels of MMP-3, TIMP-1, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All GU patients were positive for Helicobacter pylori, while all FD patients were negative. Antral levels of TIMP-1, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly higher in GU than FD patients. Further, MMP-3 levels were significantly higher in GU patients at the ulcer site than in the antrum, and had a significantly positive correlation with TIMP-1, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-3 levels were significantly higher at the ulcer site than in the antrum, suggesting that MMP-3 may perform an important function in gastric ulcer healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
authors.forename: Motofusa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miyahara
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohmiya
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niwa
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3