title: Matrix metalloproteinase-12 leads to elastin degradation in BALB/c mice with eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis.
abstract: The rat lugworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis can cause eosinophilic meningitis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12 and its substrate elastin participate in this inflammatory response. We showed that the MMP-12/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 ratio was significantly increased in the CSF of A. cantonensis-infected mice from day 10 p.i., and reached high levels on days 20 and 25 p.i. MMP-12 production was correlated with elastin degradation, eosinophil count, blood-CSF barrier permeability and pathological changes in the subarachnoid space. Also, MMP-12 might contribute to elastin degradation in the meningeal vessel of the subarachnoid space. Simultaneous administration of albendazole and doxycycline significantly reduced the levels of MMP-12, elastin and Evans blue in mice with meningitis. These results imply that MMP-12 contributes to the elastin degradation that occurs in angiostrongyliasis meningitis, and doxycycline can reverse related inflammatory events by inhibition of MMP-12.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism*; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053508:Matrix Metalloproteinase 12 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008581:Meningitis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D004549:Elastin; D053508:Matrix Metalloproteinase 12