Analysis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and might be potential markers of diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring treatment effects. The aim of the present study was evaluation of the MMPs significance in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF MMPs) of patients with ALS in relation to severity of the disease. Metalloproteinases MT-MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and additionally age of subjects and disease duration were analyzed. The results demonstrate that the error of differentiation between healthy subjects and ALS patients (for MMP-2 feature) as well as between mild and severe ALS states (for CSF MMPs set) equalled to 0.033. In conclusion, the pattern recognition approach may be useful for differentation of ALS progressing on the basis of CSF MMPs features.