title: Matrix metalloproteinases-9 and -2 in secondary vasculitic neuropathies.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endoproteinases that play an important role in inflammation and tissue degradation. MMP-9 and MMP-2 are gelatinases that have been implicated in the degradation of the blood-brain or blood-nerve barrier. We present an immunohistochemical study on 11 nerve biopsy samples of inflammatory and non-inflammatory polyneuropathies. Perineurium and endothelium were positive for MMP-2 in all tissue sections. In addition, there was a specific up-regulation of MMP-2 in stromal cells of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and even more in vasculitic neuropathies. MMP-9-positive cells were detected in vessel walls, infiltrates, epineurium and endoneurium of vasculitic neuropathies. In CIDP, MMP-9-positive cells were prominent in vessel walls. Only a few MMP-9-positive cells were detected in noninflammatory controls in blood vessels and adhering to vessel walls. Double staining indicated that the infiltrating cells were T cells and macrophages. Our findings suggest that MMP-9 plays an important role in inflammatory peripheral neuropathy probably as means for inflammatory cell invasion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospitals, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erne
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fuhr
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.forename: Andreas J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Steck
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leppert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000201:enzymology; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000201:enzymology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9