title: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is elevated in serum of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and its specific inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by zymography in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In contrast to patients with inflammatory diseases, MMP-9 levels were not elevated in CSF of ALS patients. In serum, however, compared to healthy donors, MMP-9 was significantly (p = 0.0003) increased up to levels as high as those of viral meningoencephalitis (VM) or bacterial meningitis (BM) patients. MMP-9 levels remained elevated during long-term observation of ALS patients. In the absence of an inflammatory response, the results indicate that the increase of MMP-9 in serum of ALS patients might be caused by upregulation of MMP-9 in denervated muscles or in degenerating peripheral nerves following motor neurone loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beuche
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yushchenko
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maliszewska
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Felgenhauer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000201:enzymology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000201:enzymology; D012016:Reference Values; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9