title: Increase of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients treated with high doses of methylprednisolone.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). As methylprednisolone is the treatment of choice for a relapse, we investigated the effect of methylprednisolone on blood levels of MMPs. Baseline TIMP-1 and MMP-2 levels were lower in MS patients than in healthy controls. MMP-9 levels tended to be elevated. During therapy, MMP-9 levels demonstrate a dose-dependent increase. No effect was noted on TIMP-1 and MMP-2 levels. The short-lived increase of MMP-9 plasma levels may be at least in part due to an activation and an increase of granulocytes and monocytes by methylprednisolone.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurology, Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstrasse 2-10, D-80804 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mirowska
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wicha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czlonkowski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czlonkowska
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008775:Methylprednisolone