Matrix metalloproteinase 9 and epileptogenesis â the crucial role of the enzyme and strategies to prevent the disease development

Abstract

Epileptogenesis is the process responsible for converting normal brain into an epileptic. It may be triggered by an event such as brain injury or status epilepticus (SE). The
main mechanisms responsible include neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, pathologic neuronal networksâ reorganisation and aberrant synaptic plasticity. Accumulating amount of evidence from animal models and epileptic patients strongly suggest that matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is potentially one of the key executors of the processes of epileptogenesis. MMP-9 by affecting synaptic plasticity is suggested to enable epileptic remodelling of the brain circuitry. MMP-9âs dependent cleavage of BBB followed by inflammatory cell infiltration into the brain contributes to the neuroinflamation component of epileptogenesis. The goal of this review was to analyse all possible ways MMP-9 may be involved in epileptogenesis and consider MMP-9 inhibition as potential therapeutic strategy.