Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 238, Issues 1–2, 28 November 1997, Pages 53-56
Neuroscience Letters

Increased gelatinase A (MMP-2) and gelatinase B (MMP-9) activities in human brain after focal ischemia

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(97)00859-8Get rights and content

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in remodelling extracellular matrix. Gelatinase B (MMP-9) is an inducible 92 kDa MMP expressed by neutrophils, microglia, and endothelial cells. Gelatinase A (MMP-2) is a 72 kDa MMP, constitutively expressed in brain. Elevated MMP activity has been linked to various pathologic conditions, and the therapeutic benefit of MMP inhibitors is under study in a few experimental models. Using gelatin zymography, we have compared activities of these MMPs in infarcted and matched non-infarcted cerebral tissue from eight subjects dying at intervals of less than 2 h to several years after a stroke. Gelatinase B activity was markedly elevated in the infarcted tissue at two days post-infarction, and remained elevated in cases dying months after the event. Increases in gelatinase A activity were subtle at 2–5 days; they were marked and significant in cases dying at 4 months and later. The findings indicate distinct temporal profiles of post-ischemic gelatinase activity in human brain, with earlier but equally persistent elevation in gelatinase B when compared to gelatinase A.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Drs. Roland Auer and Alistair Buchan for their insightful comments on this study, and Dr. Tak Fung for his able advice on statistical analysis of the data.

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