title: Proteolytic balance in patients with multiple sclerosis during interferon treatment.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, inflammatory, demyelinating disease. An altered cytokine network has been reported to occur during the disease, and its pathogenetic role has been hypothesized. To date, interferon-beta (IFN-beta) is the most effective and reliable therapy in the majority of MS patients, although the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects are not fully understood. Breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) with consequent extravasation of the T cells and their invasion of the brain parenchyma seems to be one of the most important steps in the pathogenesis of the disease. Matrix metalloproteinease-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 are enzymes with proteolytic activities toward extracellular matrix ECM components. They are physiologically balanced by the MMP tissue inhibitors TIMP-2 and TIMP-1, so that proteolysis occurs as the result of increased MMP or decreased TIMP levels. In 38 patients with MS, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 levels were similar before and after 9 months of IFN-beta therapy, whereas MMP-9 levels significantly decreased and TIMP-2 levels significantly increased in comparison to values obtained before treatment. These results suggest that IFN-beta modulates T cell activities, including MMP and TIMP production, thus contributing either to maintaining the integrity of the BBB or to slowing the progression of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy. g.giannelli@intmed.uniba.it
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannelli
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Marzo
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scagnolari
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bergamini
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fransvea
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bagnato
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellomi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Millefiorini
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasperini
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antonaci
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D016899:Interferon-beta; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9