Metalloproteinase's activity and oxidative stress in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

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Sagrario Martín-Aragón1, Paloma Bermejo-Bescós, Juana Benedí

  • 1Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida de la Complutense s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain. smartina@farm.ucm.es

Neurochemical Research
|July 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) did not change in Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Oxidative stress markers increased in AD, suggesting MMPs are not activated by oxidative stress in these neurological conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Biochemistry
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and oxidative stress are linked to neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  • Assessing MMP activity and oxidative stress markers in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and AD is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in MCI and AD patients compared to controls.
  • To analyze the relationship between MMP activities and oxidative stress markers (GPx-Se, MDA) in these patient groups.

Main Methods:

  • Plasma samples from MCI, AD, and age-matched control subjects were analyzed.
  • Enzyme activities of MMP-2, MMP-9, and glutathione peroxidase Se-dependent (GPx-Se) were measured.
  • Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, an oxidative stress marker, were quantified.

Main Results:

  • Plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities did not significantly differ between MCI/AD patients and controls.
  • GPx-Se activity and MDA levels were significantly elevated in AD patients compared to controls.
  • Negative correlations were found between MMPs and MDA in both AD and MCI patients.

Conclusions:

  • Oxidative stress events in AD and MCI do not appear to involve the activation of MMPs.
  • The similar biochemical patterns observed in AD and MCI suggest they may be biochemically equivalent stages of a disease process.

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