Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 in Epilepsy: The Role of Neuroinflammation in Seizure Development

Abstract EN

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 is a proteolytic enzyme which is recently one of the more often studied biomarkers.

Its possible use as a biomarker of neuronal damage in stroke, heart diseases, tumors, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy is being widely indicated.

In epilepsy, MMP-9 is suggested to play a role in epileptic focus formation and in the stimulation of seizures.

The increase of MMP-9 activity in the epileptic focus was observed both in animal models and in clinical studies.

MMP-9 contributes to formation of epileptic focus, for example, by remodeling of synapses.

Its proteolytic action on the elements of blood-brain barrier and activation of chemotactic processes facilitates accumulation of inflammatory cells and induces seizures.

Also modification of glutamatergic transmission by MMP-9 is associated with seizures.

In this review we will try to recapitulate the results of previous studies about MMP-9 in terms of its association with epilepsy.

We will discuss the mechanisms of its actions and present the results revealed in animal models and clinical studies.

We will also provide a comparison of the results of various studies on MMP-9 levels in the context of its possible use as a biomarker of the activity of epilepsy.