A recent study demonstrated that infection of human brain microvascular endothelial cells with N. meningitidis induced both the detachment of brain endothelial cells from the matrix and the cleavage of the tight junction protein occludin; interestingly, both processes were mediated by MMP-8, thereby proposing a molecular mechanism behind BBB breakdown during MM [42]. This evidence concerns the gene OCLN and Miyoshi myopathy.