MMP-2 - EXPRESSION, ACTIVATION AND INHIBITION

Remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which occurs during many physiological and pathological processes, is one of the requisite eve nts of cellular invasion. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a f amily of zinc-dependent proteases that are responsible for proteolytic degradation of specific ECM components. Regulating the activity of th e MMPs at both mRNA and/or protein levels modulates the degradation of the ECM components which in turn alter cellular invasion. Although mo st MMPs are regulated via similar mechanisms at the mRNA and protein l evels, the modulation of gelatinase A is unique. Understanding the mec hanisms that regulate gelatinase A is important since expression and a ctivation of this particular MMP is consistently correlated with a maj ority of malignant phenotypes. In this report, we will contrast the me chanisms that regulate the expression, activation and inhibition of ge latinase A with the mechanisms that modulate the rest the MMP family.