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Editors Selection IGR 16-4

(Laser) Surgical treatment: MMPs and woundhealing

Comment by Tina Wong on:

20012 Expression of matrix metalloproteinases in wound healing after glaucoma filtration surgery in rabbits, Shima I; Katsuda S; Ueda Y et al., Ophthalmic Research, 2007; 39: 315-324

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Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes known to be associated with both physiological and pathological states in the body. MMP activity facilitates extracellular matrix remodeling that occurs following tissue injury. Shima et al. < (1509) provide further supporting evidence that MMPs are clearly required during the initial acute wound healing response following filtration surgery in an animal model. There are currently 24 MMPs identified, of which the expression of MMPs 1, 2, 3 and 14 seem to play a prominent role in subconjunctival wound healing. The authors demonstrate this in both protein expression and  enzyme activity by RT-PCR

MMPs are clearly required during the initial acute wound healing response following fi ltration surgery

from fresh tissue specimens and gelatin zymography respectively. Macrophages are reported here as the main cell type to immunostain positive for MMP expression during the acute phase of inflammation. After 14 days the authors report a reduction in MMP activity and an increase in fi broblast proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition. Four months after surgery the authors show evident subconjunctival scarring with minimal cell population. It would be informative to determine the change in MMP expression profile from an acute inflammatory state to the chronic, remodeling phase. However, there is no doubt that MMPs are integral in shaping the course of cellular events that ensue after ocular wounding.

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