The role of matrix metalloproteinases in vascular inflammation / 国际儿科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP),which are secreted by a variety of cell types,have the function of degrading extracellular matrix.Based on the substrate specificity,MMP can be assigned to five subgroupsinterstitial collagenases,gelatinases,stromelysins,membrane-type MMP and others.MMP have been implicated in the pathophysiologic processes of tumor invasion and metastasis,angiogenesis,cardiovascular disease,etc.And emerging evidences have shown that MMP play important roles in vascular inflammation.