Evaluation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Plasma Levels in Untreated New Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients and Their First-Degree Family Publisher Pubmed

Summary: Could MMP-9 levels flag early multiple sclerosis risk? This study found higher plasma MMP-9 in RRMS patients, with elevated levels also in high risk relatives. #MultipleSclerosis #Biomarkers

Samangooei M¹ ; Farjam M¹ ; Niknam Z² ; Etemadifar M³ ; Meshkibaf M¹ ; Noroozi S¹
Source: Metabolic Brain Disease Published:2021

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinase, especially Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has vital roles in the disruption of blood barrier, neuroinflammation and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The goal of this study is to estimate the plasma levels of MMP-9 in the first-degree family of MS patients. 35 untreated patients with definite RRMS (Relapsing–Remitting Multiple sclerosis) according to the McDonald criteria, 24 healthy controls (HC) and 26 high-risk families of untreated RRMS patients were enrolled in the study. Plasma levels of MMP-9 were analyzed by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Although the plasma protein levels of MMP-9 were elevated significantly in the untreated RRMS group (P < 0.05, P = 0.0203) as compared to the control group, but the family of MS patients was not significance (P = 0.208). The mean plasma MMP-9 concentration for HC, untreated RRMS and high-risk group was 322.268 pg/ml, 611.926 pg/ml and 518.939 pg/ml respectively. MMP-9 was used to understand the role of this biomarker in the pathogenesis of MS in the high-risk group. It found that plasma levels of MMP-9 in the new cases of MS were increased considerably. Confirming the importance of MMP-9 as a predictive marker in the high-risk group will be needed more researches. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.