Journal
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE
Volume 42, Issue 2, Pages 121-131Publisher
WALTER DE GRUYTER GMBH
DOI: 10.1515/CCLM.2004.024
Keywords
atherosclerosis; extracellular matrix; inflammation; inhibition; metalloproteinase; therapeutics
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), also called matrixins, are proteinases that participate in extracellular matrix remodelling and degradation. Under normal physiological conditions, the activities of MMPs are precisely regulated at the level of transcription, of activation of the proMMP precursor zymogens and of inhibition by endogenous inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases; TIMPs). Alteration in the regulation of MMP activity is implicated in diseases such as cancer, fibrosis, arthritis and atherosclerosis. The pathological effects of MMPs and TIMPs in cardiovascular diseases involve vascular remodelling, atherosclerotic plaque instability and left ventricular remodelling after myocardial infarction. Since excessive tissue remodelling and increased matrix metalloproteinase activity have been demonstrated during atherosclerotic lesion progression (including plaque disruption), MMPs represent a potential target for therapeutic intervention aimed at modification of vascular pathology by restoring the physiological balance between MMPs and TIMPs. This review describes the members of the MMP and TIMP families and discusses the structure, function and regulation of MMP activity; finally, pharmacological approaches to MMP inhibition are highlighted.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available