International Journal of Molecular Sciences Article Changes in Gene and Protein Expression of Metalloproteinase-2 and -9 and Their Inhibitors TIMP2 and TIMP3 in Different Parts of Fluoride-Exposed Rat Brain Agnieszka Łukomska 1 , Irena Baranowska-Bosiacka 2, Karolina Dec 3, Anna Pilutin 4, Maciej Tarnowski 5 , Karolina Jakubczyk 3 , Wojciech Zwierełło˙ 1 , Marta Skórka-Majewicz 1 , Dariusz Chlubek 2 and Izabela Gutowska 1,* 1 Department of Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, Powsta´nców Wlkp. 72 Av., 70-111 Szczecin, Poland;
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[email protected] (M.S.-M.) 2 Department of Biochemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, Powsta´nców Wlkp. 72 Av., 70-111 Szczecin, Poland;
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[email protected] Abstract: Fluoride (F) exposure decreases brain receptor activity and neurotransmitter production. Citation: Łukomska, A.; A recent study has shown that chronic fluoride exposure during childhood can affect cognitive func- Baranowska-Bosiacka, I.; Dec, K.; tion and decrease intelligence quotient, but the mechanism of this phenomenon is still incomplete. Pilutin, A.; Tarnowski, M.; Jakubczyk, Extracellular matrix (ECM) and its enzymes are one of the key players of neuroplasticity which is es- K.; Zwierełło,˙ W.; Skórka-Majewicz, sential for cognitive function development.