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MMP2 and MMP9 Activity Is Crucial for Adult Visual Cortex Plasticity in Healthy and Stroke-Affected Mice
Ipek Akol1, Evgenia Kalogeraki1,2, Justyna Pielecka-Fortuna1
1Department of Systems Neuroscience, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Universität Göttingen, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany.
Summary
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) regulate brain plasticity. Inhibiting MMP2/9 suppressed visual cortex plasticity in healthy mice but rescued plasticity after stroke, indicating optimal MMP activity is key.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Extracellular Matrix Biology
Background:
- The brain's extracellular matrix (ECM) is vital for neuronal development and plasticity.
- Proteolytic cleavage of ECM components by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is hypothesized to regulate plasticity.
- MMPs are crucial for maintaining a balance between neural stability and reorganization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of MMP2 and MMP9 in adult primary visual cortex (V1) plasticity.
- To determine if MMP2/9 inhibition affects stroke-induced visual cortex plasticity impairments.
Main Methods:
- Selective inhibition of MMP2/9 in adult mice.
- Assessment of ocular dominance plasticity in healthy and post-stroke conditions.
Main Results:
- Inhibition of MMP2/9 for 7 days suppressed ocular dominance plasticity in healthy adult mice.
- Brief inhibition of MMP2/9 after cortical stroke rescued compromised visual cortex plasticity.
- Optimal proteolytic activity of MMP2/9 is critical for adult visual plasticity.
Conclusions:
- MMP2/9 activity levels must be within a narrow range for adult visual plasticity.
- Targeting MMP2/9 can either inhibit or rescue cortical plasticity based on the brain's state.
- These findings highlight the complex role of MMPs in neural plasticity and recovery.
