FIND ARTICLE

METALLOPROTEINASE 9 (MMP-9) AS A UNIQUE MEMBER OF THE MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE FAMILY: ROLE IN INFLUX OF NEUTROPHILS AND THEIR APOPTOSIS DURING INFLAMMATION

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family consists of Zn2+-dependent endopeptidases. The enzymes degrade structural proteins of basement membranes and extracellular matrix facilitating tissue remodeling and cell mobility thus phenomena accompanying physiological and inflammatory processes as well as cancer diseases. One of the subgroups among MMPs is a subfamily of gelatinases consisting of gelatinase A (MMP-2) and gelatinase B (MMP-9).

MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most widespread neurodegenerative disorder. The etiology of this disease is not completely elucidated. Amyloid plaques (extracellular aggregates of amyloid β peptides – Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles (intracellular deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau protein) are histopa- thological hallmarks of the Alzheimer disease. These morphological changes are present mostly in brain regions involved in cognition, emotion, learning and memory. The critical events in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease are caused by amyloid β peptides.

OPIOID SYSTEM AND INNATE IMMUNITY – COMPARATIVE STUDIES. II. OPIOIDS AND INFLAMMATION

Homeostasis is critically dependent on communication between the immune, endocrine and nervous systems, and also the opioid system. Opioids can affect immune processes directly through the activation of opioid receptors on leukocytes or indirectly through the stimulation of the corticosteroid and catecholamine release. Leukocytes can also synthesize and release opioid peptides, which act as analgesic factors during inflammatory process. Many data indicate that opioids are also immunomodulators, and can affect leukocyte migration, killing activity and apoptosis.

The Editorial Board
Andrzej Łukaszyk - przewodniczący, Zofia Bielańska-Osuchowska, Szczepan Biliński, Mieczysław Chorąży, Aleksander Koj, Włodzimierz Korochoda, Leszek Kuźnicki, Aleksandra Stojałowska, Lech Wojtczak

Editorial address:
Katedra i Zakład Histologii i Embriologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Poznaniu, ul. Święcickiego 6, 60-781 Poznań, tel. +48 61 8546453, fax. +48 61 8546440, email: mnowicki@ump.edu.pl

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