Open AccessGastric gelatinase B/matrix metalloproteinase‐9 is rapidly increased in Helicobacter felis ‐induced gastritis
Author(s) -
Bergin Philip J.,
Raghavan Sukanya,
Svensson Helena,
Starckx Sofie,
Van Aelst Ilse,
Gjertsson Inger,
Opdenakker Ghislain,
QuidingJärbrink Marianne
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2007.00349.x
Subject(s) - gastritis , helicobacter , biology , stomach , helicobacter pylori , gastric mucosa , matrix metalloproteinase , immunology , lamina propria , pathology , immune system , medicine , epithelium , biochemistry , genetics
It has previously been shown that matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) levels, originating from macrophages, are considerably increased in human Helicobacter pylori ‐associated gastritis. Here, the early kinetics of the MMP‐9 response resulting from Helicobacter infection in C57BL/6 and MMP‐9 knock‐out mice using the murine Helicobacter felis model were examined. H. felis infection induced severe gastritis in the murine stomach at just 2 weeks after infection. Before gastritis, an increase was observed in MMP‐9‐positive cells detected by immunohistochemistry in the basal lamina propria. This finding was corroborated by gelatin zymography of stomach samples. As the gastritis increased so did the concentration of MMP‐9 and the incidence of gastric MMP‐9‐positive cells, their location corresponding to that of macrophages. In contrast, systemic levels of MMP‐9 remained unchanged. When MMP‐9‐deficient mice were infected with H. felis , no significant difference in gastritis development was detected compared with disease development in wild‐type animals. We conclude that MMP‐9 production is an early event in the response to gastric Helicobacter infection, a feature that may favor the recruitment of immune cells early during infection. At later stages, however, the increased levels of MMP‐9 may damage the integrity of the stomach mucosa.