title: Matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors as markers of disease subtype and response to interferon-beta therapy in relapsing and secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Their suggested role includes the disruption of the blood-brain barrier, immune cell transmigration into the central nervous system, and myelin degradation. The present study characterized the mRNA level of a wide spectrum of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) expressed by peripheral blood leukocytes from relapsing-remitting (n = 16) and secondary-progressive (n = 12) multiple sclerosis patients. The expression of the same MMPs and TIMPs was evaluated also in a prospective 12-month follow-up of 6 patients randomly chosen from each of the 2 groups during interferon beta-1a treatment. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assessment demonstrated elevated levels of MT1-MMP and MMP-7 mRNA levels in both groups of patients, and no significant differences in MMP-9 levels, compared with healthy controls. Divergent expression of MMP-2 between relapsing-remitting and secondary-progressive patients compared with controls was observed. Interferon-beta treatment was associated with significant suppression of MMP-9 and MMP-7 mRNA in relapsing-remitting patients, though no significant changes were observed in the secondary-progressive group. These results contribute to the understanding of the IFN-beta-mediated immunomodulatory and therapeutic effects in multiple sclerosis patients and also support evidence for distinct immune mechanism(s) underlying relapsing-remitting versus secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis. The study also suggests that MMPs may be considered as potential biomarkers for response to treatment as well as targets for immunotherapy in multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunlogy Research Unit, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Galboiz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lahat
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rawashdeh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000235:genetics; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics*; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D016899:Interferon-beta; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9