Topic: MMP-9

Understanding the intricate network of molecular interactions responsible for synaptic plasticity remains a significant challenge in neuroscience research. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been repeatedly implicated in the plasticity of excitatory synapses, notably in proBDNF processing. Our current study extends these findings by elucidating MMP-9's crucial role in dendritic spine plasticity through its involvement in the insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGFIR) signaling pathway. Specifically, we demonstrate that MMP-9 is essential for IGFIR activation, a key process in long-term

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked neuromuscular disease characterized by the absence of the cytoskeletal protein dystrophin (Dp427). Short isoforms, such as Dp116 in myelinating Schwann cells (SCs), exist in specific cell types. In SCs, Dp116 binds to the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (DGC), which crucially contributes to myelin integrity and fiber conduction properties. Our prior research on the sciatic nerve (SN) of wild-type and mdx mice, a DMD animal model lacking Dp427, revealed a significant decrease in all myelin protein levels, indicating compromised myelin