This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Here is a rather interesting exchange I had with Ed Hill when I proposed that shutting down MMPs would be a good idea to help MS folks in Dec 2003.

I have modified my position and now only seek to lower the MMP-9 levels a Tad with selected supplements and foods/food extracts.

This is Ed Hill to me (jackD)

gonna pour a little skunked beer on this one...sorry.


jack, you are absolutely right that modulation of MMP-9 in the CNS
helps us greatly.


and noodling TIMP (Tissue Inhibitors of MetalloProteinses) production
thereby correcting the TIMP/MMP imbalance long known to be common to
MSrs is a tempting target.


apologies to those already up on the following.


think MMP as open hand with zinc ion in the palm. the zinc ion when
exposed breaks down certain proteins by busting up weak hydrogen bonds
on contact.


TIMPs might best be seen as a second hand closing over the first,
fingers entwined so blocking contact between the zink ion and other
proteins.


normally, like most other MMPs 9 travels with it's TIMP in tow doing
no harm. there are a few ways to remove the TIMP and activate the
zinc ion. and in some cases, particularly in the MS CNS there aren't
enough TIMPs to go around.


MMP-9 has been shown to cut throughthe vessel walls of the BBB making
way for immune system elements to get in. and inside the CNS it does
all kinds of damage.


on the other hand...


MMP-9 is a working part of the extracellular matrix. that's the gooey
space between cells. when cells die or eject some garbage, MMP-9 is a
major factor in cutting the junk into nice littel bits and sending 'em
off to the lymphatics.(the "other" circulatory system) from whence
they are shuffled out the poopshoot.


this makes noodling with the matrixins a tad tricky at best. MMP-9 is
also the main cutting tool allowing mensus and ovulation. you didn't
think the eggs just pop up on their own did you? that's a whole
article in itself.


i've written here 'bout this in days of yore.


it might just be the reason for women being struck more frequently by autoimmunity.


their whole MMP regulatory system is flipped over and rebooted every
month. that's a risky biz in my book.

anyways...


oncologists have been fiddling with MMP-9 among others because they
facilitate tumor vascularization. arthritis aka rheumatologists have
also done some great work in this area.

the catch?

THE SIDE EFFECTS SUCK!!!!


it's kind of like shutting down garbage collections because the trucks
smell bad.

great fer a few days. but soon the garbage piles up and it's not very pretty.


regards
ed