Ischemic stroke is characterized by a disruption of blood supply to a part of the brain tissue, which leads to a focal ischemic infarct. The expression and activity of MMP-9 is increased in ischemic stroke and is considered to be one of the main factors responsible for damages to the cerebral vasculature, resulting in compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. However, the regulatory mechanisms of MMP-9 expression and activity are not well established in ischemic stroke. Since hypoxia/ischemia and reperfusion generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), I hypothesize that ROS is one of factors involved in up-regulation of MMP-9 expression in brain cells and ROS-mediated effect may occur via MAPK signaling pathway. My study has provided the evidence that ROS is responsible for an increase in MMP-9 expression in astrocytes mediated via MAPK-AP1 signaling pathway. Preliminary studies with an in vitro model of the BBB suggest that inhibition of MMP-9 is a critical component of reducing ROS-induced BBB permeability.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OOU-OLD./19828 |
| Date | 14 March 2011 |
| Creators | Malcomson, Elizabeth |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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