Home > Browse Issues > Vol.36 No.12
Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Pain and Morphine Tolerance
Lin Mingyan, Hong Yanguo*
Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Neuroscience, College of Life Sciences,Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Abstract: The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) constitute a family of both zinc- and calcium-dependent endopeptidases. The MMPs include 28 MMP members， function in degrading the extracellular matrix collagen components and regulating different types of cells migration and stress response. Studies show that after chronic nerve injury， MMP-9 and MMP-2 are involved in the formation and maintenance of hyperalgesia， which is an important mechanism for inducing neuropathic pain. Besides， acute or chronic morphine application induces an increase of MMP-9 and MMP-2， which can weaken the analgesic effect of morphine and then lead to opioid tolerance. These findings not only contribute to elucidate the mechanism of pain theory， but also provide a new path for the treatment of pain and opioid side effects.
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