Expression and regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-12 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and by bone marrow derived macrophages in vitro.

Several matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) members contribute to pathology in multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). As the role of MMP-12 in EAE has been understudied, we examined its expression in EAE and in vitro. MMP-12 transcripts increased with EAE, and protein was localized to a subset of macrophages/microglia. The temporal expression of MMP-12 largely corresponded to that of cytokines, and we demonstrate that IL-1beta and TNF-alpha promoted MMP-12 expression in cultured macrophages. We postulate that cytokine - MMP-12 interactions are important in the disease process of EAE.