Targeting MMP8 for depression

Inhibiting the extracellular collagenase MMP8, which is secreted by brain- trafficking monocytes and upregulated in blood from patients with depression, could help treat the disease by preventing extracellular matrix loss in the nucleus accumbens.

Patients with major depressive disorder had higher numbers of monocytes and neutrophils, but not lymphocytes, in blood than healthy individuals, and higher blood monocyte and neutrophil numbers were correlated with higher scores on the self-reported Perceived Stress Scale. ...