BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) are thought to be associated with the pathogenesis and spread of psoriatic disease. This study was designed to investigate the plasma levels of MMP-3, MMP-9 and TIMP-3 in plaque psoriasis patients prior to and following a course of ultraviolet B narrowband treatment with respect to disease advancement. METHODS Pla...

MMP-11 is a key factor in physiopathological tissue remodeling. As an active form is secreted, its activity must be tightly regulated to avoid detrimental effects. Although TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 reversibly inhibit MMP-11, another more drastic scenario, presumably via hydrolysis, could be hypothesized. In this context, we have investigated the possible implication of MMP-14, since it exhibits a spat...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The pathophysiology of cerebral aneurysms (CAs) is linked to chronic inflammation and degradation of extracellular matrix in vascular walls. Because statins have protective effects on various vascular diseases independent of their lipid-lowering effects, we investigated the effect of simvastatin on CA progression. METHODS CAs were induced in Sprague-Dawley rats with or ...

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 has recently emerged as an important molecule in control of extracellular proteolysis in the synaptic plasticity. However, no synaptic targets for its enzymatic activity had been identified before. In this report, we show that beta-dystroglycan comprises such a neuronal activity-driven target for matrix metalloproteinase-9. This notion is based on the following observ...

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most devastating types of stroke. Here, we aim to demonstrate that electroacupuncture on Baihui (GV20) exerts neuroprotection for acute ICH possibly via the caveolin-1/matrix metalloproteinase/blood-brain barrier permeability pathway. The model of ICH was established by using collagenase VII. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: ...

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of permanent, irreversible, central blindness (scotoma in the central visual field that makes reading and writing impossible, stereoscopic vision, recognition of colors and details) in patients over the age of 50 years in European and North America countries, and an important role is attributed to disorders in the regulation of the ext...

background: beta-adrenergic blocking agents have been broadly used for treatment of many cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension and ischemic heart failure. anti-tumoral, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenesis effects of propranolol (a non-selective beta-adrenergic blocker) have been shown. angiogenesis (replenish of the pre-existing vascular networks) plays a critical role in so...

background: integrins are a family of transmembrane proteins that allow communication between the extracellular matrix and the interior of cells. chondrocytes, cells of articular cartilage, express integrins and these molecules appear to have a variety of roles including mechanotransduction. integrins are known to associate with a number of accessory molecules such as cd147 that may act to regu...

there are emerging data on novel tumor markers such as matrix metalloproteinase-2 (mmp-2 or gelatinase-a), which play a key role in tissue invasion and metastasis. we designed an investigation to assess the usefulness of mmp-2 activity as compared to prostate specific antigen (psa) in cancer staging process. we have analyzed the circulating form of mmp-2 in serum samples of patients suffering f...