Metalloproteinases as mediators of tissue regeneration in the peripheral nerve: an important role for metalloproteinase-2

Background: Metalloproteinases (MMP) have been implicated to contribute to the harmful effects of inflammation in the peripheral nervous system by promoting cytotoxicity and breakdown of the blood-nerve-barrier. However, recent studies indicate that in a regenerative milieu, MMP-2 may also facilitate repair mechanisms by promoting axonal guidance and remodelling of the extracellular matrix. We discovered that MMP-2 was highly upregulated in naïve Schwann cell cultures and investigated therefore the expression of MMP-2 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with inflammatory neuropathies and an in-vitro model o…