Numbers of cells expressing procollagen I, MMP-1, and MMP-3 mRNA were similar, but subepithelial procollagen I transcripts per cell were significantly increased (42 and 38 vs 18 [13-23]; P < .05) in CS compared with CD, whereas cellular transcript densities for MMP-1 and MMP-3 mRNA were similar.
Polymorphisms associated with elevated expression (MMP-3 -1171 allele 5A; MMP-1 -1607 2G), at 11q22.2, a region repeatedly showing evidence of linkage in coeliac disease, are associated with other chronic inflammatory disorders which may share a common molecular pathology.
The numbers of cells positive for MMP-1 (p<0.005), MMP-3 (p<0.01), and TIMP-1 (p<0.05) mRNA were higher in the subepithelial region of CD mucosa than in that from controls.