MMP9 and gastroenteritis: A possible role of MMP-9 in bacterial-dependent or bacterial-induced models of intestinal inflammation has been described in several studies.14–19 Heimesaat et al. investigated the effect of MMP-2 and MMP-9 deficiency on the development of acute DSS-induced colitis and concluded that MMP-2 plays a causal role in the establishment of colitis.14 In addition to other lowered inflammatory parameters, the authors observed less overgrowth of the colon by Escherichia coli (E. coli) in MMP-2 knockout mice, but not in MMP-9 knockout mice.