RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Collagen degradation and MMP9 activation by Enterococcus faecalis contribute to intestinal anastomotic leak JF Science Translational Medicine FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP 286ra68 OP 286ra68 DO 10.1126/scitranslmed.3010658 VO 7 IS 286 A1 Shogan, Benjamin D. A1 Belogortseva, Natalia A1 Luong, Preston M. A1 Zaborin, Alexander A1 Lax, Simon A1 Bethel, Cindy A1 Ward, Marc A1 Muldoon, Joseph P. A1 Singer, Mark A1 An, Gary A1 Umanskiy, Konstantin A1 Konda, Vani A1 Shakhsheer, Baddr A1 Luo, James A1 Klabbers, Robin A1 Hancock, Lynn E. A1 Gilbert, Jack A1 Zaborina, Olga A1 Alverdy, John C. YR 2015 UL http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/7/286/286ra68.abstract AB Even under the most expert care, a properly constructed intestinal anastomosis can fail to heal, resulting in leakage of its contents, peritonitis, and sepsis. The cause of anastomotic leak remains unknown, and its incidence has not changed in decades. We demonstrate that the commensal bacterium Enterococcus faecalis contributes to the pathogenesis of anastomotic leak through its capacity to degrade collagen and to activate tissue matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in host intestinal tissues. We demonstrate in rats that leaking anastomotic tissues were colonized by E. faecalis strains that showed an increased collagen-degrading activity and also an increased ability to activate host MMP9, both of which contributed to anastomotic leakage. We demonstrate that the E. faecalis genes gelE and sprE were required for E. faecalis–mediated MMP9 activation. Either elimination of E. faecalis strains through direct topical antibiotics applied to rat intestinal tissues or pharmacological suppression of intestinal MMP9 activation prevented anastomotic leak in rats. In contrast, the standard recommended intravenous antibiotics used in patients undergoing colorectal surgery did not eliminate E. faecalis at anastomotic tissues nor did they prevent leak in our rat model. Finally, we show in humans undergoing colon surgery and treated with the standard recommended intravenous antibiotics that their anastomotic tissues still contained E. faecalis and other bacterial strains with collagen-degrading/MMP9-activating activity. We suggest that intestinal microbes with the capacity to produce collagenases and to activate host metalloproteinase MMP9 may break down collagen in the intestinal tissue contributing to anastomotic leak.