Matrix metalloproteinase 2 gene knockout has no effect on acute brain injury after focal ischemia

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may contribute to tissue damage after cerebral ischemia. In this study, wildtype and MMP-2 knockout mice were subjected to permanent and transient (2 h) occlusions of the middle cerebral artery. Gelatin zymography showed that MMP-9 levels were increased in all brains after ischemia. MMP-2 levels did not show a significant increase in wildtype mice, and were not detectable in knockout mice. Laser doppler flowmetry demonstrated equivalent ischemic reductions in pet-fusion in wildtype and knockout mice. In both permanent and transient occlusion paradigms, there were no statistically significant differences between wildtype and knockout mice in terms of 24 h ischemic lesion volumes. These data suggest that MMP-2 does not contribute to acute tissue damage in this model of focal ischemia. NeuroReport 12:3003-3007 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.