Matrix metalloproteinase-13 participates in neuroprotection and neurorepair after cerebral ischemia in mice.

New neuroreparative and neuroprotective therapies are being sought to treat stroke patients. One approach is the remodeling of extracellular matrix, which participates in both brain injury and neurovascular repair when matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are thought to be key players. Our aim was to investigate the role of MMP-13 (collagenase-3) in the acute (24h and 3days) and delayed (2weeks) phases of stroke.

Impaired vascular remodeling after endothelial progenitor cell transplantation in MMP9-deficient mice suffering cortical cerebral ischemia.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are being investigated for advanced therapies, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) has an important role in stroke recovery. Our aim was to determine whether tissue MMP9 influences the EPC-induced angiogenesis after ischemia. Wild-type (WT) and MMP9-deficient mice (MMP9/KO) were subjected to cerebral ischemia and treated with vehicle or outgrowth EPCs.

Rapid synthesis of water-dispersible superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles by a microwave-assisted route for safe labeling of endothelial progenitor cells.

We synthesize highly crystalline citrate-coated iron oxide superparamagnetic nanoparticles that are stable and readily dispersible in water by an extremely fast microwave-assisted route and investigate the uptake of magnetic nanoparticles by endothelial cells. Nanoparticles form large aggregates when added to complete endothelial cell medium. The size of the aggregates was controlled by adjusting the ionic strength of the medium.