Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman B23, B4000 Liège, Belgium.
Biochimie 2005 Mar-AprMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc endopeptidases that process growth factors, growth factor binding proteins, cell surface proteins, degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) components and thereby play a central role in tissue remodeling and tumor progression. Membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs) are a recently discovered subgroup of intrinsic plasma membrane proteins. Their functions have been extended from pericellular proteolysis and control of cell migration to cell signaling, control of cell proliferation and regulation of multiple stages of tumor progression including growth and angiogenesis. This review sheds light on the new functions of MT-MMPs and their inhibitors in tumor development and angiogenesis, and presents recent investigations that document their influence on various cell functions.
N E Sounni, A Noel. Membrane type-matrix metalloproteinases and tumor progression. Biochimie. 2005 Mar-Apr;87(3-4):329-42
PMID: 15781320
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