Association of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and Purkinje cell degeneration in mouse cerebellum caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis

• Published in: International journal for parasitology Vol. 34; no. 10; pp. 1147 - 1156
• Main Authors: Chen, Ke-Min, Lee, Hsiu-Hsiung, Lu, Kuang-Hui, Tseng, Yu-Kai, Hsu, Li-Sung, Chou, Hui-Lin, Lai, Shih-Chan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebellum - enzymology; Cerebellum - parasitology; Cerebellum - pathology; Experimental protozoal diseases and models; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GM6001; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Infectious diseases; Life cycle. Host-agent relationship. Pathogenesis; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - analysis; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; MMP-9; Parasitic diseases; Protozoa; Protozoal diseases; Purkinje cells; Purkinje Cells - enzymology; Purkinje Cells - parasitology; Purkinje Cells - pathology; Strongylida Infections - enzymology; Strongylida Infections - pathology; Purkinje cells; MMP-9; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; GM6001; Rodentia; Parasite; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Helmintha; Nemathelminthia; Degeneration; Invertebrata; Nematoda
• ISSN: 0020-7519; 1879-0135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2004.07.004

Angiostrongylosis is a neurological disorder caused by invasion of the central nervous system by developing larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Purkinje cells in infected mouse cerebellums are small and irregular with degenerative atrophy or partial loss. Ultrastructural changes in degenerative cells included enlarged vacuolar structures and swollen mitochondria within the cytoplasm. The matrix metalloproteinase-9 mRNA which is low in normal cerebellums was expressed in A. cantonensis-infected mice cerebellum prior to Purkinje cell degeneration. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 protein level and enzyme activity increased when the Purkinje cells appeared degenerated. Using immunohistochemistry, matrix metalloproteinase-9 was localised within degenerative Purkinje cells. In addition, when the specific matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, GM6001, was added, matrix metalloproteinase-9 enzyme activity was reduced by 41.6%. The numbers of degenerative Purkinje cells increased significantly upon establishment of infection but subsided upon inhibition. These results suggested that the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 may be associated with degeneration of Purkinje cells in mouse cerebellum infected by A. cantonensis.