HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kanesaka, T Articles by Kuwabara, S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kanesaka, T Articles by Kuwabara, S Related Collections Multiple sclerosis

Serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 levels correlate with disease activity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Department of Neurology, Chiba University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Toshihide Kanesaka
Department of Neurology, Chiba University School of Medicine, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670 Japan; kane2000{at}f7.dion.ne.jp

Background: Adhesion molecules and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are known to be relevant to the ongoing development and disappearance of areas of demyelination in the white matter of the CNS of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This study examined whether serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) levels correlate with disease activity in MS.

Methods: Serum MMP-3 levels in 47 consecutive patients with relapsing-remitting MS were measured by immunoassay every 4 weeks over a 15 month period.

Results: During the study period, 48 clinical relapses occurred. Serum MMP-3 levels within 1 month of relapse were significantly higher than during the remission phase. Sequential analysis showed that serum MMP-3 levels had increased transiently at the time of clinical relapse but returned to the normal range within a month.

Conclusions: Circulatory MMP-3 levels are correlated with disease activity in relapsing-remitting MS. This may contribute to the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier at the time of relapse.

Abbreviations: BBB, blood-brain barrier; CNS, central nervous system; ECM, extracellular matrix; EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale; EIA, enzyme immunoassay; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; MMP-3, matrix metalloproteinase-3; MS, multiple sclerosis; TIMPs, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases

Keywords: blood-brain barrier; matrix metalloproteinases; multiple sclerosis; stromelysin-1

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Mannello, G.A.M. Tonti, and F. Canestrari The `never-ending story' of the influence of blood specimen collection methods affecting the concentration, the zymographic profile and the usefulness of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in multiple sclerosis diagnosis/prognosis: a landmark for limiting the misuse of serum samples Multiple Sclerosis, June 1, 2007; 13(5): 687 - 690. [PDF]