title: Friends or Foes: Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Multifaceted Roles in Neurodegenerative Diseases.
abstract: Neurodegeneration is a chronic progressive loss of neuronal cells leading to deterioration of central nervous system (CNS) functionality. It has been shown that neuroinflammation precedes neurodegeneration in various neurodegenerative diseases. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a protein family of zinc-containing endopeptidases, are essential in (neuro)inflammation and might be involved in neurodegeneration. Although MMPs are indispensable for physiological development and functioning of the organism, they are often referred to as double-edged swords due to their ability to also inflict substantial damage in various pathological conditions. MMP activity is strictly controlled, and its dysregulation leads to a variety of pathologies. Investigation of their potential use as therapeutic targets requires a better understanding of their contributions to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we review MMPs and their roles in neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). We also discuss MMP inhibition as a possible therapeutic strategy to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Inflammation Research Center, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium ; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium ; Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research, University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brkic
authors.affiliation: Inflammation Research Center, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium ; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sriram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balusu
authors.affiliation: Inflammation Research Center, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium ; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Libert
authors.affiliation: Inflammation Research Center, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium ; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Roosmarijn E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Vandenbroucke
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000201:enzymology; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000201:enzymology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000201:enzymology; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000201:enzymology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000201:enzymology*; D055495:Neurogenesis; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases