Expression of ADAMTS-9 in the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis and its relationship to cleavage of aggrecan and versican

A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs) are proteases which are able to cleave aggregating chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs), including aggrecan and versican. Extracellular matrix (ECM) alterations have been reported in the central nervous system (CNS) in multiple sclerosis (MS) in post mortem white matter tissue, due to both the release and activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and ADAMTSs as well as increased synthesis of ECM components. To elucidate the potential pathophysiological role of ADAMTS-9 in ECM changes in MS, we investigated expression of aggrecan and versican by dual label immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting (WB) using antibodies which specifically recognise cleavage-derived aggrecan and versican neoepitopes or intact proteins.