Role of MMP9 and MMP9/TIMP1 ratio in assessment of relapse in multiple sclerosis patients

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive inflammatory disease of the central nervous system affecting young adults. The development of process-specific therapies is impossible without use of biological markers that can objectively reflect the targeted immunopathological process, and indicate patients’ responses to therapeutic interventions. One of these biomarkers are indicators of blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors; tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase1 (TIMP).