Founding member of the
Zuse community and the FTVT

Horse Health

Diagnostic biomarker: MMP-9

Dr. Ina-Gabriele Richter's group has been studying equine matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) for many years. MMP-9 is an important diagnostic biomarker both in equine degenerative diseases (Barnewitz et al., 2015; Lerchbacher-Hieslmayr et al., 2018) and in horses with colic symptoms and a positive sepsis score in which MMP-9 concentrations in plasma and peritoneal fluid are elevated (Barton et al. 2021, Hamouzova et al., 2023). The MMP-9 concentration in serum is increased in dehydrated horses (van Spijk et al., 2023).

.

MMP-9 for fast and effective diagnostics

In recent years, a horse-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a lateral flow rapid test have been developed in market-oriented research projects to enable faster and more effective diagnostics. Both tests are routinely used to examine synovial samples as well as to evaluate vitreous fluid from horses treated at the fzmb GmbH veterinary clinic. During surgical treatment of recurrent uveitis (ERU) by vitrectomy, MMP-9 rapid analysis can be used for intraoperative monitoring to assess the progress of surgery.

.

MMP-9 also suitable for therapy?

Research results from recent years show that MMP-9 can also be a promising therapeutic target. In equine corneal fibrosis, for example, there is evidence of MMP-9 involvement (Donnelly et al., 2014), which can be influenced by its inhibition. This suggests that local neutralization of the overexpressed MMP-9 could intervene in the course of the disease to promote healing. In equine sarcoid, a semi-malignant skin tumor in horses, it has also been shown that increased expression of MMPs can lead to neoplastic transformation during wound healing (Martano et al., 2016). It is therefore possible that targeted local inhibition of MMP-9 could be a further therapeutic approach for the treatment of equine sarcoid.

.

Literature
  1. Barnewitz, D., E. Karakine, I.-G. Richter, and J. Lerchbacher. (2015). The importance of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 in the diagnosis of lameness. The Practical Veterinarian. 11-2015:1124 ff.
  2. Lerchbacher-Hieslmayr, J., I.-G. Richter, V. Häussler, C. Bräunig, and D. Barnewitz. (2018). Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 facilitates diagnostics in equine degenerative joint disease and may serve as osteoarthritis biomarker in horses. Equine Medicine Equine Medicine. 34:563-573.
  3. Donnelly, K.S., E.A. Giuliano, A. Sharm, and R.R. Mohan. (2014). Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (vorinostat): its role on equine corneal fibrosis and matrix metalloproteinase activity. Vet Ophthalmol. 17 Suppl 1:61-68.
  4. Martano, M., A. Corteggio, B. Restucci, M.E. De Biase, G. Borzacchiello, and P. Maiolino. (2016). Extracellular matrix remodeling in equine sarcoid: an immunohistochemical and molecular study. BMC Vet Res. 12:24.
  5. Barton, A.K., Richter, I.-G., Ahrens, T., Merle, R., Alalwani, A., Lilge, S., Purschke, K., Barnewitz, D. and Gehlen, H. (2021). MMP-9 Concentration in Peritoneal Fluid Is a Valuable Biomarker Associated with Endotoxemia in Equine Colic. Mediators of Inflammation Vol. 2021.
  6. van Spijk, J.N., Lo, H.C., Merle, R., Richter, I.-G., Diemar, A., Stoeckle, S.D. and Gehlen, H. (2023). Serum and Urinary Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Concentrations in Dehydrated Horses. Animals (Basel). 13, 3776.
  7. Hamouzova, P., Dobesova, O., Rehakova, K., Stehlikova, S., Cizek, P., Drabkova, Z., Jahn, P., and Doubek, J. (2023). Lymphocyte immunophenotyping and concentration of MMP-9 in transudates and exudates in horses. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 263:110645.