Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 were significantly higher (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively, FDR corrected), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 was lower (P = 0.04, FDR corrected) in patients with seizure activity at any time in the past.
We confirmed these findings <i>in vivo</i> in rats after status epilepticus and in brain capillaries from male mice lacking cytosolic phospholipase A<sub>2</sub> Together, our data support the hypothesis that glutamate released during seizures signals an increase in MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression and activity levels, resulting in blood-brain barrier leakage.<b>SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT</b> The mechanism leading to seizure-mediated blood-brain barrier dysfunction in epilepsy is poorly understood.