The increase of the expression of MMP2 and MMP7 in the colon indicated that the EpCAM+/− mice are more sensitive to colitis than WT mice, and the elevation of the levels of MMP2, MMP7, MMP8 and MMP12 further confirmed that the DSS administration induced the severer inflammation in the colon of EpCAM+/−mice than the WT mice. Here, MMP12 is linked to colitis.