MMP-9 supplied by bone marrow-derived cells contributes to skin carcinogenesis

MMP-9 from cells from bone marrow has been found to contribute to carcinogenesis in skin. The matrix metalloproteinase MMP-9/gelatinase B has been found to be upregulated in angiogenic dysplasias and invasive cancers of the epidermis in mice used to study multistage tumorigenesis brought on by HPV1 oncogenes. Transgenic mice without MMP-9 have lower keratinocyte hyperproliferation at all neoplastic stages and lower rates of invasive tumors. Inflammatory cells can be a factor in carcinogenesis.