The potential use of MMP inhibitors to treat CNS diseases

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are considered to be the physiological mediators of extracellular matrix remodelling. MMPs are involved in a variety of functions and in the nervous system, these include angiogenesis and the extension of neuronal growth cones during development. However, it has become increasingly evident that the aberrant expression of MMPs in the nervous system contributes to diseases that include among others, multiple sclerosis, malignant gliomas, Alzheimer's disease and stroke. This review highlights the evidence that MMPs are involved in diseases of the nervous system, and provides information for the potential beneficial use of MMP inhibitors in NS disorders. However, the application of MMP inhibitors to treat CNS diseases must be balanced carefully against the beneficial roles normally played by MMPs in CNS physiology or recovery.