Matrilysin is a member of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) which have been supposed to play a critical role in tumor invasion and metastasis. We have previously found that this enzyme was expressed in human colorectal cancers and the expression was preferentially observed in cancer tissues. Zymography is a useful tool to assay matrilysin activity, since this enzyme is secreted as zymogen that must be activated by partial proteolysis for acquiring practical enzyme activity. We demonstrated that active form of matrilysin was produced in cancer tissue but not in adenoma nor in adjacent normal tissues utilizing zymography.
In vitro invasiveness of matrilysin-transfected colon cancer cells was markedly greater than that of non-transfected ones. These invasiveness obtained by introduction of matrilysin was correlated with active matrilysin levels of transfected cells. These results suggest that matrilysin has an important role in the invasion of gastrointestinal cancers.
View full abstract