An imbalance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) may contribute to tissue destruction that is found in various inflammatory disorders. To determine in an in vivo experimental setting whether the inflammatory reaction in the course of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia causes an altered balance in the MMP/TIMP system, we analyzed the expression of a number of MMP and TIMP genes as well as MMP enzymatic activity in the liver, kidney, spleen, and brain at various time points after systemic injection of different doses of LPS in mice. Injection of sublethal doses of LPS led to an organ- and time-specific pattern of up-regulation of several MMP genes and the TIMP-1 gene in the liver, spleen, and kidney, whereas in the brain only TIMP-1 was induced. Injection of a lethal dose of LPS caused similar but more prolonged expression of these MMP genes as well as the induction of additional MMP genes in all organs. In LPS-treated mice in situ hybridization revealed collagenase 3 gene induction in cells resembling macrophages whereas TIMP-1 RNA was detected predominantly in parenchymal cells. Finally, gelatin zymography revealed increased gelatinolytic activity in all organs after LPS treatment. These observations highlight a dramatic shift in favor of increased expression of the MMP genes over the TIMP genes during LPS-induced endotoxemia, and suggest that MMPs may contribute to the development of organ damage in endotoxemia.