Figure 1

MMP activity is linked to neuroinflammation and injury progression. Necrotic cell death after H-I leads to BBB degradation, reactive astrogliosis and activation of resident microglia. Lectican deposition contributes to glial scar formation. Immune cells of the brain increase expression and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Gelatinase activity initiates a second, delayed opening of the BBB through proteolytic processing of basement membrane constituents. Peripheral macrophages infiltrate into the brain and further promote the inflammatory response. Ultimately, these processes create unfavorable conditions for neuroplasticity and repair. While gelatinases activate cytokines and chemokines through sheddase activity, they also proteolytically process ECM to release growth factors from sequestration. Red arrows indicate neurodegenerative effects; blue arrows indicate neuroprotective effects.