Role of matrix metalloproteinases in regulating neurovascular unit affect the prognosis of chronic compression of spinal cord injury: current status / 中华外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Chronic spinal cord compression is the common clinical prognosis with various outcomes, but the affecting factors and mechanisms still remain unexplored. The structure and function of neurovascular unit manifest great significance in the central nervous system diseases. This paper discusses matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) impact on the stability of the neural vascular unit, by directly decomposing extracellular matrix, inducing the glial cell migration, activating angiogenesis, regulating function of blood spinal cord barrier, and put forward the MMP may be the key points in regulation of spinal cord neurovascular unit structure and function change to affect the outcome of chronic oppressive cervical spinal cord.