Matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Background and purpose: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We investigated the expression of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) correlating the results with age, disease duration and the clinical course. Methods: The material consisted of 30 ALS patients and 15 age‐matched healthy controls. ELISA method to determine the expression of MT‐MMP‐1, MMP‐2, MMP‐9, TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2 in serum and CSF was used. MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 by zymography was also tested. Results: In serum MT‐MMP‐1, MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 expression was increased, especially in mild ALS cases. TIMP‐2 values were normal. In CSF MT‐MMP‐1, MMP‐2 and TIMP‐1 level was either increased or normal, that of MMP‐9 was decreased. TIMP‐2 did not change. No correlation of MMPs and TIMP‐1 expression in serum and CSF and the age of the patients was found. A correlation was observed between MMPs and TIMPs and disease duration. Conclusions: Increased level of MMPs and TIMP‐1 of ALS patients may reflect the degeneration process of motor neurons and skeletal muscles and/or is associated with tissues remodeling. The low level of MMP‐9 in CSF may result from impaired balance between MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 and/or its increased intrathecal degradation and physical clearance. Although the role of changed MMPs/TIMPs level in the pathogenesis of ALS is not clear their analysis in serum may be used as prognostic factor and a potential marker for monitoring treatment effects.     

Matrix metalloproteinases in inflammatory myopathies: enhanced immunoreactivity near atrophic myofibers

OBJECTIVES: To further examine the role of proteolytic enzyme expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and T-cell markers in inflammatory myopathies and controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied the expression of MMP-2, MMP-7, and MMP-9 in 19 cases of inflammatory myopathies and controls using immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Inflammatory myopathies showed distinct patterns of up-regulation of MMP. MMP-9 was strongly expressed in atrophic myofibers in all inflammatory myopathies. MMP-2 immunoreactivity was similar in its distribution, however, to a weaker intensity. In dermatomyositis the perifascicular atrophy showed pronounced MMP-9 immunoreactivity, probably reflecting denervated patterns of myofibers. Moreover, MMP-7 strongly immunolabeled invaded myofibers in polymyositis cases only. CONCLUSION: These patterns confirm, that MMP-7 up-regulation is prominent in PM, while MMP-2 immunoreactivity is only slightly elevated in inflamed muscle. In general, MMP-9 up-regulation appears to be an important additional molecular event in the multistep process of all inflammatory myopathies.     

Matrix metalloproteinases in neuromuscular disease

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of zinc-dependent endoproteinases, are effector molecules in the breakdown of the blood-brain and blood-nerve barrier, and promote neural tissue invasion by leukocytes in inflammatory diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Moreover, MMPs play an important role in synaptic remodeling, neuronal regeneration, and remyelination. Recent work concerning MMPs in patients with neuropathy, myopathy, spinal cord injury, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and in corresponding animal models, is discussed in this review.     

Matrix metalloproteinases and skeletal muscle: a brief review

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc- dependent proteolytic enzymes that function mainly in the extracellular matrix, where they contribute to the development, functioning, and pathology of a wide range of tissues. This mini-review describes the MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) in skeletal muscle, and considers their involvement in muscle development, ischemia, myonecrosis, angiogenesis, denervation, exercise-induced injuries, disuse atrophy, muscle repair and regeneration, and inflammatory myopathies and dystrophies. Despite the very limited information currently available on MMPs and their inhibitors in skeletal muscle, it is becoming increasingly clear that they have important physiological functions in maintenance of the integrity and homeostasis of muscle fibers and of the extracellular matrix. Understanding the roles of MMPs and TIMPs may lead to the development of new drug-related treatments for various muscle disorders based on suppression or upregulation of their expression.     

Matrix metalloproteinases in neural development:a phylogenetically diverse perspective

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases originally charac-terized as secreted proteases responsible for degrading extracellular matrix proteins. Their canonical role in matrix remodelling is of signiifcant importance in neural development and regeneration, but emerging roles for MMPs, especially in signal transduction pathways, are also of obvious importance in a neural con-text. Misregulation of MMP activity is a hallmark of many neuropathologies, and members of every branch of the MMP family have been implicated in aspects of neural development and disease. However, while extraordinary research efforts have been made to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involving MMPs, methodological constraints and complexities of the research models have impeded progress. Here we discuss the current state of our understanding of the roles of MMPs in neural development using recent ex-amples and advocate a phylogenetically diverse approach to MMP research as a means to both circumvent the challenges associated with speciifc model organisms, and to provide a broader evolutionary context from which to synthesize an understanding of the underlying biology.     

The TIMPs tango with MMPs and more in the central nervous system

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent extracellular proteases that have been implicated in CNS development and disease. Crucial homeostatic regulation of MMPs is mediated through the expression and actions of the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Although the TIMPs are recognized inhibitors of the MMPs, recent studies have revealed that these proteins also can exhibit biological activities that are distinct from their interactions with or inhibition of the MMPs. With our understanding of the roles of the TIMPs in the CNS continuously emerging, this review examines the current state of knowledge regarding the multifarious and novel functions of this family of proteins, with particular attention to their increasing potential in the development, plasticity, and pathology of the CNS.     

MMP、TIMP在颅内动脉瘤中表达的实验研究

目的 本研究探讨基质金属蛋白酶(MMP)及基质金属蛋白酶抑制剂在颅内动脉瘤中的基因表达及作用.方法 将30例颅内动脉瘤患者分为破裂动脉瘤组及未破裂动脉瘤组,均开颅行夹闭术,术后获得动脉瘤标本,real time RT-PCR法定量测定MMPs、TIMPs mRNA水平.ELISA法测定破裂动脉瘤与未破裂动脉瘤患者血清中MMP-2、MMP-9水平.免疫组织化学染色定位MMP、TIMP在组织细胞的位置.结果 与未破裂动脉瘤相比,MMP-2、MMP-9在破裂动脉瘤中明显升高(P＜0.05),MMP-2/TIMP-1,MMP-2/TIMP-2,MMP-2/TIMP-3,MMP-9/TIMP-2在破裂动脉瘤中明显升高(P＜0.05).破裂动脉瘤患者血清MMP-2、MMP-9水平明显高于未破裂动脉瘤(P＜0.05).结论 破裂和未破裂动脉瘤之间MMP表达水平差异与动脉瘤破裂相关.     

Matrix metalloproteinases are involved in mechanical stretch-induced activation of skeletal muscle satellite cells

When skeletal muscle is stretched or injured, myogenic satellite cells are activated to enter the cell cycle. This process depends on nitric oxide (NO) production, release of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) from the extracellular matrix, and presentation of HGF to the c-met receptor. Experiments reported herein provide new evidence that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the NO-dependent release of HGF in vitro. When rat satellite cells were treated with 10 ng/ml recombinant tissue inhibitor-1 of MMPs (TIMP-1) and subjected to treatments that induce activation in vitro, i.e., sodium nitroprusside (SNP) of an NO donor or mechanical cyclic stretch, the activation response was inhibited. In addition, conditioned medium generated by cultures treated with TIMP-1 plus SNP or mechanical stretch failed to activate cultured satellite cells and did not contain HGF. Moreover, NO(x) assay demonstrated that TIMP-1 does not impair NO synthase activity of stretched satellite cell cultures. Therefore, results from these experiments provide strong evidence that MMPs mediate HGF release from the matrix and that this step in the pathway is downstream from NO synthesis.     

Matrix metalloproteinases and proteoglycans in axonal regeneration

After an injury to the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS), a variety of growth-inhibitory molecules are upregulated. A glial scar forms at the site of injury and is composed of numerous molecular substances, including chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs). These proteoglycans inhibit axonal growth in vitro and in vivo. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can degrade the core protein of some CSPGs as well as other growth-inhibitory molecules such as Nogo and tenascin-C. MMPs have been shown to facilitate axonal regeneration in the adult mammalian peripheral nervous system (PNS). This review will focus on the various roles of proteoglycans and MMPs within the injured nervous system. First, we will present a general background on the injured central nervous system and explore the roles that proteoglycans play in the injured PNS and CNS. Second, we will discuss the various functions of MMPs within the injured PNS and CNS. Special attention will be paid to the possibility of how MMPs might modify the growth-inhibitory extracellular environment of the injured adult mammalian spinal cord and facilitate axonal regeneration in the CNS.     

Extracellular matrix and matrix metalloproteinases in sciatic nerve

Although matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are increasingly being implicated in several pathologies of the nervous system, it is not yet clear what role they play in normal neurobiological processes. We review the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) components as well as MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in the peripheral nervous system. We explore the expression of certain MMPs and the four TIMPs at the mRNA level in the postnatal mouse sciatic nerve. In addition, we have used substrate gel and in situ zymography to determine levels of MMP-2 and -9 and TIMP activity in rat sciatic nerve after crush and during regeneration. A rapid and transient increase in MMP-9 localised at and immediately distal to the site of injury was observed, whereas an increase in MMP-2 activity was delayed, prolonged, and extended proximal and distal to the injury site. This activity coincides with periods of axonal elongation, suggesting that it could act to facilitate axonal extension along the nerve matrix. We also detected multiple species of gelatinolytic inhibitory activity, including TIMP-1 and -3 in control and injured nerve. These activities probably act to prevent uncontrolled gelatinolytic activity, maintaining nerve integrity at the level essential for axonal regrowth.     

Minocycline suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by increasing tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are secreted by activated T cells play a significant role in degradation of the extracellular matrix around the blood vessels and facilitate autoimmune neuroinflammation; however, it remains unclear how MMPs act in lesion formation and whether MMP‐targeted therapies are effective in disease suppression. In the present study, we attempted to treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by administration of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for MMP‐2, MMP‐9, and minocycline, all of which have MMP‐inhibiting functions. Minocycline, but not siRNAs, significantly suppressed disease development. In situ zymography revealed that gelatinase activities were almost completely suppressed in the spinal cords of minocycline‐treated animals, while significant gelatinase activities were measured in the EAE lesions of control animals. However, MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 mRNAs and proteins in the spinal cords of treated rats were unexpectedly upregulated. At the same time, mRNA for tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP)‐1 and ‐2 were also upregulated. The EnzChek Gelatinase/Collagenase assay using tissue containing native MMPs and TIMPs demonstrated that gelatinase activity levels in the spinal cords of treated rats were suppressed to the same level as those in normal spinal cord tissues. Finally, double immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that MMP‐9 immunoreactivities of treated rats were almost the same as those of control rats and that MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 immunoreactivities were colocalized in the spinal cord. These findings suggest that minocycline administration does not suppress MMPs at mRNA and protein levels but that it suppresses gelatinase activities by upregulating TIMPs. Thus, MMP‐targeted therapies should be designed after the mechanisms of candidate drugs have been considered.     

基质金属蛋白酶(MMP-2、MMP-9)在人脑星形胶质细胞瘤的表达

目的 探讨基质金属蛋白酶(matrix metalloproteinases，MMP)与人脑星形胶质细胞瘤浸润性生长之间的关系，以及基质金属蛋白酶的阳性表达与星形胶质细胞瘤病理分级的关系。方法 应用免疫组织化学染色法(SP法)检测44例人脑星形胶质细胞瘤组织中MMP-2、MMP-9的表达。结果 Ⅲ、Ⅳ级中MMP-2、MMP-9蛋白的表达显著高于Ⅰ、Ⅱ级，而正常脑组织中无表达；在人脑星形胶质细胞瘤中MMP-2和MMP-9的表达之间无明显相关性。结论 MMP-2、MMP-9的表达与星形胶质细胞瘤的恶性程度有关，其高表达可能与星形胶质细胞瘤的侵袭转移有关。     

Phase-dependent expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in demyelinating canine distemper encephalitis

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc- and calcium-dependent enzymes that cleave molecules of the extracellular matrix, and thus are able to open the blood-brain-barrier and affect myelin. Their inhibitors (TIMPs) are important candidates for the therapy of demyelinating diseases. To establish an immunohistochemical profile of MMP and TIMP expression in plaque variants in dogs with spontaneous demyelinating distemper encephalitis, paraffin-embedded cerebella were studied employing the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method with a panel of nine polyclonal (anti-MMP-1, -3, -7, -9, -12, -13, -14, -TIMP-1, and -2) and two monoclonal antibodies (anti-latent MMP-2, and -MMP-11). All MMPs and TIMPs were prominently up-regulated in acute and subacute non-inflammatory lesions, and double-labeling techniques showed that they were mainly expressed by astrocytes and brain macrophages/microglia. In subacute inflammatory and chronic plaques, a moderate to strong decrease of MMP and TIMP expression compared to acute lesions was observed. In these phases MMP-11, -12, and -13 were still moderately present. In addition to astro- and microglia, invading perivascular mononuclear cells were positive for MMPs and TIMPs. In summary, there seems to be a phase-dependent expression of MMPs and TIMPs in demyelinating canine distemper encephalitis, and an MMP-TIMP imbalance might account for the lesion progression in this disease.     

血管损伤修复与基质金属蛋白酶

背景：基质金属蛋白酶是一组能特异降解细胞外基质成分依赖锌的酶家族,近年来研究发现其参与了血管损伤后早期应激反应,与血管损伤后再狭窄发生相关。目的：就基质金属蛋白酶在血管损伤中的一些生理病理过程做一综述。方法：应用计算机检索Medline数据库、Ovid数据库、Springerlink数据库、维普数据库及中国知网数据库,纳入1990/2010发表的29篇基质金属蛋白酶与血管损伤以及药物等干预有关的文献进行总结分析。结果与结论：心血管动脉系统在损伤后,包括经皮腔内血管成形后血管狭窄的发生率较高。基质金属蛋白酶在受损动脉的局部表达增加,通过促进内膜增厚和改变血管重构而促进血管损伤后再狭窄的发生。因此,降低血管受损局部基质金属蛋白酶表达将成为防治血管内再狭窄的一个方向。关键词：血管损伤;血管内再狭窄;基质金属蛋白酶;基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子;血管组织工程     

Matrix metalloproteinases and their biological function in human gliomas

Gliomas, a type of devastating primary brain tumors, are distinct from other solid, non-neural primary neoplasms, in that they display extensive infiltrative invasive behavior but seldom metastasize to distant organs. This invasiveness into the surrounding normal brain tissue makes gliomas a major challenge for clinical intervention. Total surgical resection of gliomas is not possible, and recurrence of tumor growth is common; mean survival time is 8-12 months. Although substantial progress has been made recently toward understanding the behavior of gliomas, the mechanisms that facilitate invasion are still poorly documented. Clues to the invasion process have been ascertained through clarification of the key roles played by the extracellular matrix (ECM), cell-adhesion molecules and matrix degrading proteases. Serine proteases and metalloproteinases have been implicated in glioma tumor cell-invasion. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in particular can degrade almost all known ECM components and seem to play important roles in mediating glioblastoma tumor cell invasion. This review focuses on recent developments concerning the role of MMPs in the invasiveness of human gliomas.     

Tightening the retinal glia limitans attenuates neuroinflammation after optic nerve injury

Increasing evidence suggests that functional impairments at the level of the neurovascular unit (NVU) underlie many neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. While being part of the NVU, astrocytes have been largely overlooked in this context and only recently, tightening of the glia limitans has been put forward as an important neuroprotective response to limit these injurious processes. In this study, using the retina as a central nervous system (CNS) model organ, we investigated the structure and function of the glia limitans, and reveal that the blood–retina barrier and glia limitans function as a coordinated double barrier to limit infiltration of leukocytes and immune molecules. We provide in vitro and in vivo evidence for a protective response at the NVU upon CNS injury, which evokes inflammation-induced glia limitans tightening. Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) was found to be a crucial regulator of this process, thereby revealing its beneficial and immunomodulatory role in the CNS. in vivo experiments in which MMP-3 activity was deleted via genetic and pharmacological approaches, combined with a comprehensive study of tight junction molecules, glial end feet markers, myeloid cell infiltration, cytokine expression and neurodegeneration, show that MMP-3 attenuates neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration by tightening the glia limitans, thereby pointing to a prominent role of MMP-3 in preserving the integrity of the NVU upon injury. Finally, we gathered promising evidence to suggest that IL1b, which is also regulated by MMP-3, is at least one of the molecular messengers that induces glia limitans tightening in the injured CNS.     

Matrix metalloproteinases MMP2 and MMP9 are upregulated by noradrenaline in the mouse neuroendocrine hypothalamus

Magnocellular neurons of the hypothalamic supraoptic nuclei (SON) are involved in the synthesis and release of two major neuropeptides: oxytocin (OT) and arginine-vassopressin (AVP). Neurochemical plasticity in this system is induced by physiological conditions such as lactation, parturition and dehydration, and may be accompanied by reversible structural plasticity affecting neurons, astrocytes and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The noradrenergic system plays a critical role in triggering this chemical plasticity associated with structural plasticity. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are good candidates for involvement in the ECM remodelling observed in structural plasticity. We investigated the possible regulation of the two gelatinases, MMP2 and MMP9, by noradrenaline (NA) in the mouse neuroendocrine hypothalamus. We looked for the presence, location and activity of MMP2 and MMP9 in the SON, using an ex vivo experimental model of mouse hypothalamic slices incubated for 4 h with 10⁻⁴  m NA. We showed that: (i) immunoreactivity for MMP2 and MMP9 was detected not only in AVP-positive and OT-positive magnocellular neurons, but also in astrocyte processes in control and NA-treated slices; (ii) the number of MMP2- and MMP9-positive cells increased after incubation with NA; (iii) MMP2 and MMP9 displayed markedly higher levels of gelatinolytic activity after NA treatment. These results suggest that both MMP2 and MMP9 are regulated by NA, and could therefore also be involved in structural plasticity within the SON.     

Genome-Wide Association Study of the Relationship Between Matrix Metalloproteinases and Intracranial Aneurysms

Background and PurposeMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are expected to play an important role in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in response to hemodynamic stress. We investigated the association between MMPs and intracranial aneurysms (IAs) via a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of IAs.MethodsA GWAS data set of 250 IAs and 294 controls was used to analyze the genetic link between MMPs and IAs via single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), MMP gene families, and in silico functional analyses of gene ontology (GO) enrichment and protein–protein interaction (PPI).ResultsForty-eight SNPs and 1 indel out of 342 markers of MMP genes were related to IAs. The rs2425024 SNP located on MMP24 was the most strongly associated with IAs (OR=0.43, CI=0.30–0.61, p=2.4×10^-6), suggesting a protective effect. The 16938619 SNP of MMP26 significantly increased the risk of an IA (OR=3.12, 95% CI=1.76–5.50, p=8.85×10^-5). Five MMP genes (MMP24, MMP13, MMP2, MMP17, and MMP1) increased the susceptibility to an IA. MMP24 was the gene most closely related to IAs (p=7.96×10^-7). GO analysis showed that collagen catabolism was the most-enhanced biological process. Further, metalloendopeptidase activity and ECM were predominantly detected in the cellular component and molecular function, respectively. PPI provided evidence that MMP2, TIMP2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2), and TIMP3 genes constitute a network for predicting IA formation.ConclusionsThe present results provide comprehensive insight into the occurrence of IAs associated with MMPs.