Not only haveelevated levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 been reported in the peritoneal fluid ofrats following sodium taurocholate-induced pancreatitis [48], butalso MMP-3 and MMP-9 enzyme activity has been shown to be elevated 12 hours aftercerulein-induced pancreatitis [49].Therefore, trypsin and/or MMP activation very early in the pathogenesis ofacute pancreatitis could be one mechanism by which the elevated levels ofsE-cadherin are achieved. Here, MMP2 is linked to pancreatitis.