the non-transformed (“normal”) intestinal cell line IEC-6. Fold increases for Caco-2, MDA-MB-231, and IEC-6 (respectively) were: MMP-2: 3,6,2; MMP-7: 10,8,6; and MMP-9: 8,8, and 5 fold (p ≤ .05 for all MMPs vs. control, t-tests). We also assessed Caco-2 cell MMP-7 expression with ethanol at varying concentrations [0.01% (2 mM); 0.05% (11 mM); 0.075% (16 mM); 0.1% (22 mM); 0.2% (43 mM); 1.0% (217 mM); 2.0% (434 mM)] for 24h (Figure 2D). As shown in Figure 2D, ethanol stimulated a dose dependent significant increase in MMP-7 secretion compared to control (p ≤ .05, AVOVA with post Hoc Dunnett test). Remarkably, the peak MMP-7 detected in conditioned media was with alcohol at physiological concentrations (0.1% (22mM) and 0.2% (43 mM)). RT-PCR analysis of MMP-7 mRNA expression revealed an 8-fold increase for 0.1% (22 mM) ethanol (not shown).
