基質金屬蛋白－9(matrix metalloproteinase-9, MMP-9)參與廣東住線血線蟲(Angiostrongylus cantonensis)所引起的嗜伊紅性腦膜炎及及嗜伊紅性腦膜腦炎的病理過程。本篇評估N-acetylcysteine (NAC)及MMPs專一性的抑制劑GM6001對小白鼠感染廣東住線血線蟲所引起的嗜伊紅性腦膜炎之療效，以蟲回收數、腦脊髓液白血球的數量及基質金屬蛋白－9的活性做為評估的指標。結果顯示，GM6001治療組對腦脊髓液白血球數及基質金屬蛋白－9活性均有些許的減少，而NAC治療組則沒有影響。另外，蟲回收數兩組治療均無影響。綜合以上結果，以NAC或GM6001單獨治療廣東住線血線蟲所引起的嗜伊紅性腦膜炎效果不佳。本研究的結果建議治療廣東住線血線蟲所引起的嗜伊紅性腦膜炎，GM6001需與驅蟲藥合併治療，而NAC的治療則需考慮此藥通過血腦障壁(blood-brain barrier)之能力。
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Angiostrongylus cantonensis-induced eosinophilic meningitis or eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. To study the effect of the anti-oxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or MMP inhibitor GM6001 on this disease, we used A. cantonensis to induce eosinophilic meningitis in BALB/c mice and measured its larvicidal effect, counted leukocytes and measured MMP-9 activity in angiostrongyliasis. We found that GM6001 mildly reduced MMP-9 activity and eosinophils, while NAC did not. We also found no significant difference in the in larvicidal effect in mice treated with GM6001 or NAC (P>0.05). These findings suggest the effect of therapy with either NAC or GM6001 alone was not significant. GM6001 may be used with an anthelminthic drug to treat parasitic meningitis. However, when using NAC to treat this disease, one must consider NAC's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and get to the target site.
