Matrix Metalloproteinases Exhibit Different Expression Patterns in Inflammatory Demyelinating Diseases of the Central and Peripheral Nervous System

Inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or the Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), represent common neurologic disorders. The understanding of the pathogenesis implicated in these conditions is incomplete. It is commonly accepted that these diseases are immune mediated. An emerging body of evidence suggests that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may be of paramount importance in mediating inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). Primarily, this evidence is based on studies in animal models, such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for inflammatory demyelination of the CNS, and experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), a model for inflammatory demyelination of the PNS. We investigated the temporospatial expression pattern of various MMPs in both experimental models in an attempt to elucidate the role of these proteases in the pathogenesis of these disabling diseases.