Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Curr Pharm Des. 2012;18(25):3645-8. doi: 10.2174/138161212802002742.
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage and brain edema is a critical part of stroke pathophysiology. In this mini-review, we briefly survey the potential role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in BBB dysfunction. A large body of data in both experimental models as well as clinical patient populations suggests that MMPs may disrupt BBB permeability and interfere with cell-cell signaling in the neurovascular unit. Hence, ongoing efforts are underway to validate MMPs as potential biomarkers in stroke as well as pursue MMP blockers as therapeutic opportunities. Because BBB perturbations may also occur in neurodegeneration, MMPs and associated neurovascular unit mechanisms may also be potential targets in a broader range of CNS disorders.
血脑屏障(BBB)渗漏和脑水肿是中风病理生理学的关键部分。在这个迷你综述中,我们简要调查了基质金属蛋白酶(MMPs)在 BBB 功能障碍中的潜在作用。大量的实验模型和临床患者群体的数据表明,MMPs 可能破坏 BBB 的通透性,并干扰神经血管单元中的细胞间信号转导。因此,目前正在努力验证 MMPs 作为中风的潜在生物标志物,并探索 MMP 阻滞剂作为治疗机会。由于 BBB 扰动也可能发生在神经退行性变中,MMPs 和相关的神经血管单元机制也可能是更广泛的中枢神经系统疾病的潜在靶点。