title: Levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and metalloproteinase-9 in the cerebrospinal fluid of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: Inflammation causes increases in the level of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which, in central nervous system (CNS), are associated with neuroinflammation and disruption of blood-brain barrier. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is pivotal for detecting diseases in CNS and, although a specific diagnosis may not be achieved, this analysis is helpful to confirm the diagnosis or to rule out relevant differential diagnoses. This study examined the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the CSF of dogs using gelatin zymography to verify possible alterations in these enzymes during natural systemic infection with Leishmania chagasi. Latent and active forms of MMP-2 were detected in some dogs of both groups, with high levels in the control group. In contrast, latent and active forms of MMP-9 were detected only in some animals with leishmaniasis. These results clearly demonstrate that MMP-9 is elevated in CSF of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Although these results are preliminary, they suggest that MMP-9 might play a role in disruption of blood-brain barrier and/or blood-CSF barrier. While the presence of MMPs in CSF is not a condition exclusive to VL, their presence and persistence in CSF supports the hypothesis of an inflammatory state within CNS of dogs with VL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Clinics, College of Veterinary Medicine, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Marangoni
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: S H V
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9