Gelatinase B modulates selective opening of the blood-brain barrier during inflammation

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are associated with neuroinflammatory diseases, and blood-brain barrier damage is a pathophysiological consequence of central nervous system inflammation. We examined whether an increase in MMP production is coupled with the breakdown of blood-brain barrier integrity in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-injured brain. Rat brain stimulated with LPS showed a significant rise in gelatinase B (MMP-9) production at 24 h compared with either tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or saline-injected controls. Latent 92-kDa gelatinase B was detected by 4 h, peaked at 8 h, and persisted for 24 h after LPS injection. Production of the active 84-kDa form of gelatinase B was less pronounced, but paralleled 92-kDa enzyme expression. Breakdown in blood-brain barrier integrity, measured by the infiltration of radiolabeled exogenous markers into the brain, was significant to 14Csucrose (molecular mass 342 Da) and injected animals compared with saline-injected controls. The extent of MMP involvement in barrier permeability was examined in animals treated with the MMP inhibitor BB-1101. A significant drop in gelatinase A and B production was detected in LPS-injured animals receiving BB-1101 compared with untreated animals. This MMP inhibitor also reduced 14Csucrose uptake in LPS-injected animals, but had no effect on 14Cdextran uptake. MMP production is upregulated in LPS-injured brain tissue and is instrumental in regulating the size-differentiated opening of the blood-brain barrier during acute neuroinflammation.