Figure 5.

In situ hybridization with MMP-1, procollagen α1(I) and TIMP-1 specific [³⁵S]-labeled RNA probes in normal mucosa and CC. In normal mucosa, MMP-1 expression is restricted to few weakly labeled cells (arrow, A). In CC, MMP-1 labeling is found in few cells clustered within the subepithelial myofibroblast sheet (arrow, B). These foci of expression are interrupted by long stretches of myofibroblasts without detectable MMP-1 RNA transcript levels (B, C). The paucity of these cells is particularly evident when compared to the procollagen α1(I) specific signal on an adjacent serial section (D). TIMP-1 expression is found in a few cells of normal colon (arrows, E), but upregulated in sSEMF, pcSEMF and LP cells of CC specimens (arrows, F). CC cases no. 8 (B, F) and no. 1 (C, D). Autoradiographic exposure time 28 days (A–C), 14 days (D), and 25 days (E, F). Original magnification, ×100 (A–F).