Leader: Prof. Dr. med. Elke Roeb / Dr. rer. nat. Martin Roderfeld

Aims:

There is an increasing risk of developing colorectal cancer in patients with long lasting Crohn´s disease. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are closely related with tumor growth and metastasis. Recent studies demonstrated, that colorectal carcinomas were characterized by increased levels of MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-13, and MMP-9. In biopsy specimens of patients with Crohn´s disease we could detect significantly increased levels of MMP-2, MMP-7, and MMP-13 mRNA. Since Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection has been hypothesized as an etiological factor of Crohn's disease, we now want to examine, whether MMP-activity might be influenced by MAP in patients with Crohn´s disease and control subjects. Therapeutic intervention against MAP might represent a potential target for disease mitigation in Crohn's disease.

Results:
T. Rath, M. Roderfeld, J. Graf, S. Wagner, AK Vehr, C. Dietrich, A. Geier, E. Roeb (2006): Enhanced expression of MMP-7 and MMP-13 in inflammatory bowel disease - a precancerous potential? J Inflamm Bowel Dis Nov;12(11):1025-35.

Original articles:
Roeb E, Dietrich CG, Winograd R, Arndt M, Breuer B, Fass J, Schumpelick V, Matern S. (2001): Activity and cellular origin of gelatinases in patients with colon and rectal carcinoma differential activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9. Cancer, 92:2680-91.

T. Rath, M. Roderfeld, J. Graf, S. Wagner, AK Vehr, C. Dietrich, A. Geier, E. Roeb (2006): Enhanced expression of MMP-7 and MMP-13 in inflammatory bowel disease - a precancerous potential? J Inflamm Bowel Dis, Nov;12(11):1025-35.

Eingeworbene Drittmittel (DFG):
SFB 542 (TP C3, 9 Jahre); RO 957/6-1 (3 Jahre); RO 957/7-1;