[Kristi]

She looked great and sounded great she didn't talk about MS mostly about her aneurym she had and her rehab she went through and she said she hasn't been in a wheelchair for 6 months now and talked about the 2 movies she has coming out. I've always liked Teri Garr since Mr.Mom.

[jackD]

Hate to bring this subject up BUT I have some good information that MMP-9s which are elevated in active MS folks also cause aneurysms to GROW!!

The GOOD thing is that "things" that lower MMP-9s also slow aneurysm growth.

I am posting about these MMP critters in an Avonex thread.

jackD


1: Neurology. 1999 Oct 22;53(7):1397-401. Links

Comment in:
Neurology. 1999 Oct 22;53(7):1380-1.
Serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels are related to MRI activity in relapsing multiple sclerosis.Waubant E, Goodkin DE, Gee L, Bacchetti P, Sloan R, Stewart T, Andersson PB, Stabler G, Miller K.
UCSF/Mt. Zion Multiple Sclerosis Center, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To 1) compare monthly serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of MMP-type 1 (TIMP-1) in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) versus healthy controls and 2) determine the relationship among monthly serum levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 and MRI activity.

BACKGROUND: Activated T-cells and macrophages secrete MMPs that may facilitate their migration across vascular subendothelial basement membranes into the CNS. The serum concentration of MMP-9 is reported to be higher in patients with RRMS than healthy controls.

METHODS: Monthly evaluations including gadolinium-enhanced (Gd+) brain MRI and measures of serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were performed for up to 15 months in 24 patients with RRMS and for up to 4 months in 10 controls.

RESULTS: Serum MMP-9 but not TIMP-1 levels are elevated in RRMS patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0.025, p = 0.61). In a univariate analysis, high MMP-9 and low TIMP-1 levels precede appearance of new Gd+ lesions (respectively; odds ratio = 3.3, p = 0.008; odds ratio = 2.2, p = 0.086). In a multivariate analysis, in comparison to months when MMP-9 is low and TIMP-1 high, MRI scans obtained the month following high MMP-9 and low TIMP-1 serum concentrations are more likely to report new Gd+ lesions (p = 0.0006, odds ratio = 21.5).

CONCLUSION: An increase in the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) relative to tissue inhibitor of MMP-type 1 (TIMP-1) may be related to formation of new MS lesions, suggesting that serum levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 may be surrogate markers of disease activity in relapsing-remitting MS.

PMID: 10534241 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


1: Stroke. 2007 Jan;38(1):162-9. Epub 2006 Nov 22.

Macrophage-derived matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 promote the progression of
cerebral aneurysms in rats.

Aoki T, Kataoka H, Morimoto M, Nozaki K, Hashimoto N.

Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin,
Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mechanisms of initiation, progression and rupture of
cerebral aneurysms have not yet been fully understood despite its clinical
significance. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteinases which
are involved in the remodeling of vascular walls. In the present study, we
investigated the significance of MMPs in the progression of cerebral aneurysms.
METHODS: Cerebral aneurysms were experimentally induced in 7-week-old male
Sprague-Dawley rats. MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression was examined by
immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Gelatinase activity in aneurysmal walls was
assessed by in situ zymography. A selective inhibitor for MMP-2, -9 and -12,
tolylsam, was used to examine the effect of inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9.
RESULTS: Macrophages infiltrated in arterial walls of experimentally induced rat
cerebral aneurysms and expressed MMP-2 and -9. Macrophage infiltration and MMP
expression was increased with the progression of aneurysms. Gelatinase activity
attributable to MMP-2 and MMP-9 increased in arterial walls of rat cerebral
aneurysms. Furthermore, tolylsam reduced the ratio of advanced aneurysms in our
rat model.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that macrophage-derived MMP-2 and -9
may play an important role in the progression of cerebral aneurysms. The
findings of this study will shed a new light into the pathogenesis of cerebral
aneurysms and highlight the importance of inflammatory response causing the
degeneration of extracellular matrix in the process of this disease.

PMID: 17122420 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]