Infiltrating neutrophils play a mechanistic role in the early release and localized activation of MMP-9 following myocardial ischemia/reperfusion.
Infiltrating neutrophils are an early source of MMP-9 after reperfusion, and a portion of MMP-9 in the myocardium is active. Infiltrating neutrophils may localize MMP-9 activation by secreting MMP-9 and as a source of activating proteases.
Lindsey et al. (Tue,) studied this question.