Mmp27, a member of the matrix metalloproteinase family, is involved in processes related to extracellular matrix remodeling and peptidase activity regulation, which are crucial for normal physiological functions and are also associated with disease-related extracellular matrix changes [1,8]. Matrix metalloproteinases as a whole can be present in the extracellular matrix, regulate peptidase activity, and participate in collagen catabolism [1].

In a study on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), decreased Mmp27 mRNA expression was strongly associated with the pT4a-stage, indicating invasive tumor growth with infiltration of adjacent anatomical structures like the mandible. Loss of Mmp27 emerged as the strongest predictor of mandibular bone invasion in OSCC in binary logistic regression analysis [9]. In breast cancer, Mmp27 was significantly correlated with the clinical stages, and patients with high expression of Mmp27 had a prolonged survival time [8]. No mutations were identified in the Mmp27 gene in thyroid cancer, although three synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms were infrequently observed in anaplastic thyroid cancer [2]. In human decidualized endometrial stromal cells, treatment with E2 + medroxyprogesterone acetate significantly down-regulated Mmp27 [4]. In late polymicrobial sepsis, DCs from late septic mice expressed higher levels of Mmp27, among other MMPs [5]. A polymorphism near Mmp27 was strongly associated with high Proteobacteria abundance in Mexican Americans with diabetes [6]. Mmp27 was also identified as one of the differentially expressed serum proteins in male breast cancer [7]. In pediatric COVID-19, genetic variants at the Mmp27 locus may play a role in infection susceptibility [3].

In summary, Mmp27 is involved in extracellular matrix-related functions. Its expression changes are associated with various diseases such as oral squamous cell carcinoma, breast cancer, and potentially COVID-19 in pediatrics. Also, its genetic variation may be related to diabetes-associated gut microbiome changes. The study of Mmp27 in different disease models helps to understand its role in disease development and progression, potentially providing new perspectives for diagnosis and treatment.

References:

1. Liu, Maohua, Huang, Lijuan, Liu, Yunling, Nie, Minhai, Liu, Xuqian. 2023. Identification of the MMP family as therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers in the microenvironment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In Journal of translational medicine, 21, 208. doi:10.1186/s12967-023-04052-3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36941602/

2. Murugan, Avaniyapuram Kannan, Yang, Chongfei, Xing, Mingzhao. 2013. Mutational analysis of the GNA11, MMP27, FGD1, TRRAP and GRM3 genes in thyroid cancer. In Oncology letters, 6, 437-441. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24137342/

3. Glessner, Joseph T, Chang, Xiao, Mentch, Frank, Sleiman, Patrick M A, Hakonarson, Hakon. 2022. COVID-19 in pediatrics: Genetic susceptibility. In Frontiers in genetics, 13, 928466. doi:10.3389/fgene.2022.928466. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36051697/

4. Hisamatsu, Yoji, Murata, Hiromi, Tsubokura, Hiroaki, Tanaka, Susumu, Okada, Hidetaka. 2021. Matrix Metalloproteinases in Human Decidualized Endometrial Stromal Cells. In Current issues in molecular biology, 43, 2111-2123. doi:10.3390/cimb43030146. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34940120/

5. Lu, Zhong-Qiu, Zhang, Chen, Zhao, Lin-Jun, Yao, Yong-Ming, Zhao, Guang-Ju. 2024. Matrix metalloproteinase-8 regulates dendritic cell tolerance in late polymicrobial sepsis via the nuclear factor kappa-B p65/β-catenin pathway. In Burns & trauma, 12, tkad025. doi:10.1093/burnst/tkad025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38425412/

6. Kwan, Suet-Ying, Sabotta, Caroline M, Joon, Aron, Fisher-Hoch, Susan P, Beretta, Laura. 2022. Gut Microbiome Alterations Associated with Diabetes in Mexican Americans in South Texas. In mSystems, 7, e0003322. doi:10.1128/msystems.00033-22. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35477306/

7. Zografos, Eleni, Anagnostopoulos, Athanasios K, Papadopoulou, Aggeliki, Tsangaris, George T, Gazouli, Maria. . Serum Proteomic Signatures of Male Breast Cancer. In Cancer genomics & proteomics, 16, 129-137. doi:10.21873/cgp.20118. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30850364/

8. Cheng, Tianyi, Chen, Peiying, Chen, Jingyi, Deng, Yingtong, Huang, Chen. 2022. Landscape Analysis of Matrix Metalloproteinases Unveils Key Prognostic Markers for Patients With Breast Cancer. In Frontiers in genetics, 12, 809600. doi:10.3389/fgene.2021.809600. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35069702/

9. Eichberger, Jonas, Weber, Florian, Spanier, Gerrit, Reichert, Torsten Eugen, Ettl, Tobias. 2022. Loss of MMP-27 Predicts Mandibular Bone Invasion in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. In Cancers, 14, . doi:10.3390/cancers14164044. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36011038/