[Matrix metalloproteases and their association to tuberculosis]

Tuberculosis (TB) remains as the single most relevant bacterial infectious disease worldwide, causing nearly eight million new cases annually, with an estimated death toll close to two million people per year. The World Health Organization estimates that one third of the world population is latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Latent TB reactivation remains as the most common cause of new cases of active TB, given inflammation, necrosis and pulmonary cavitation lead to tissue erosion and dissemination to uninfected hosts. Current knowledge of events regulating exacerbated inflammatory responses is scarce. However, participation of components from both the infectious agent and the host is suspected. In this regard, likely candidates to participate in cavitation are matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), a family of proteolytic enzymes required for degrading and reconstructing tissue either in normal or pathological conditions, as well as for processing signaling molecules including cytokines and chemokines. Some studies have reported induction of MMPs genes in response to mycobacterial infection in cellular models, or how inhibiting MMPs action modify the course of tuberculosis infection in murine models.