In addition, the expression of the protease matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) – which is responsible for the proteolytic cleavage and activation of α-defensins – was significantly decreased in the ileum of Ptpn2∆IEC mice post mAIECred infection compared to Ptpn2fl/fl littermates (Figure 4(C,D)). The gene discussed is MMP7; the disease is infection.