Mycobacterium avium lysate induces matrix metalloproteinase-1 in intestinal tissue and peripheral blood: Observations from selected hospital based Zambian adults

The induction of MMP-1 and cytokines by M. avium in duodenal tissue suggests that environmental mycobacteria could contribute to the epithelial disruption seen in environmental enteropathy, and a need to further explore possible biomarkers that may predict this exposure in at-risk populations.