Molecular medicine reports
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The present study aimed to detect early changes in the concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), matrix metalloproteinase‑2 (MMP‑2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‑1 (TIMP‑1) in a rat model of brain injury combined with traumatic heterotopic ossification (HO). A total of 132 male Sprague‑Dawley rats were used to establish the experimental and control groups. Anatomy and sample collection were conducted on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. ⋯ Thus, an increase in inflammatory response is closely associated with brain injury, in addition to an increase in the number of inflammatory cells with the incidence of HO. The pathological elevation of MMP‑9 and the altered dynamic equilibrium between MMP‑9 and TIMP‑1 contributed to the degradation, remodeling and calcification of the extracellular matrix, resulting in the induction of osteoblast precursor cells in HO. MMP‑9 is a predictive marker of HO.
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The aim of the present study was to determine whether amyloid-β (Aβ) protein could be detected in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rats with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and whether Aβ protein levels in serum and CSF correlated with the injury severity. A total of 140 adult female Sprague‑Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham, mild injury, moderate injury and severe injury. Serum and CSF samples were collected at 12 h, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post‑injury. ⋯ A significant correlation between Aβ protein level in serum and CSF and neurological deficits (BBB score) was also observed (P<0.01). The protein level of Aβ in serum and CSF was severity and time‑dependent during the acute phase in rats with traumatic SCI. Monitoring the level of Aβ protein in serum may improve the evaluation of SCI severity and the neuron functional status following SCI.