title: Marine pharmacology: therapeutic targeting of matrix metalloproteinases in neuroinflammation.
abstract: Alterations in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and activity are recognized as key pathogenetic events in several neurological disorders. This evidence makes MMPs possible therapeutic targets. The search for substances that can inhibit MMPs is moving progressively toward the screening of natural products. In particular, marine bioprospecting could be promising for the discovery of marine natural products with anti-MMP activities. Despite recent advances in this field, the possibility of using marine MMP inhibitors (MMPIs) for the treatment of neuroinflammation is still under-investigated. Here, we review the latest findings in this promising research field and the potential that marine MMPIs can have in the management and treatment of various neurological diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy. Electronic address: graziamaria.liuzzi@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Grazia M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Liuzzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases