TIMP1 and colitis: Interestingly, the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (Timp1) was also detected as a hub gene specific to both acute colitis and CAC (Figure 1E and Figure 2A,B) and tightly interconnected with MMPs module (Figure 1F), which clearly indicated the importance of Timp1/MMPs balance in colitis-induced tumorigenesis.