Suppression of MMP-9 by doxycycline in brain arteriovenous malformations

Tomoki Hashimoto1, Melissa M Matsumoto, Jenny F Li

  • 1Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. hashimot@anesthesia.ucsf.edu

BMC Neurology
|January 26, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Doxycycline effectively reduced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) tissues ex-vivo and showed a trend toward reduction in patients. Further research is needed to confirm doxycycline's clinical efficacy in AVM treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Neurosurgery

Background:

  • Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are complex vascular lesions.
  • Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays a role in AVM pathogenesis.
  • Current treatment options for AVMs have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the feasibility of using doxycycline to suppress MMP-9 in AVMs.
  • To evaluate doxycycline's effect on MMP-9 levels in ex-vivo AVM tissues and in a pilot clinical trial.

Main Methods:

  • Ex-vivo treatment of AVM tissues with doxycycline.
  • Measurement of active and total MMP-9 levels.
  • Pilot trial administering doxycycline or placebo to AVM patients prior to resection.

Main Results:

  • Doxycycline significantly decreased MMP-9 levels in ex-vivo AVM tissues.
  • A trend for lower MMP-9 levels was observed in patients receiving doxycycline compared to placebo.
  • The observed effects suggest potential therapeutic value.

Conclusions:

  • Doxycycline can decrease MMP-9 in AVM tissues at clinically relevant concentrations.
  • A short course of oral doxycycline may reduce MMP-9 in AVMs.
  • Further clinical trials are warranted to validate doxycycline's efficacy in AVM treatment.

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