Metalloproteinases and Metalloproteinase Inhibitors in Age-Related Diseases

Title:Metalloproteinases and Metalloproteinase Inhibitors in Age-Related Diseases

Volume: 20 Issue: 18

Author(s): Simona Gargiulo, Paola Gamba, Giuseppe Poli and Gabriella Leonarduzzi

Affiliation:

Keywords: Metalloproteinases, metalloproteinase inhibitors, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative diseases, osteoarthritis.

Abstract: Degradation of the extracellular matrix is an important feature of embryonic development, morphogenesis, angiogenesis, tissue repair and remodeling. It is precisely regulated under physiological conditions, but when dysregulated it becomes a cause of many diseases, including atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, diabetic vascular complications, and neurodegeneration. Various types of proteinases are implicated in extracellular matrix degradation, but the major enzymes are considered to be metalloproteinases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain (ADAMs) that include ADAMs with a thrombospondin domain (ADAMTS). This review discusses involvement of the major metalloproteinases in some age-related chronic diseases, and examines what is currently known about the beneficial effects of their inhibitors, used as new therapeutic strategies for treating or preventing the development and progression of these diseases.

Cite this article as:

Gargiulo Simona, Gamba Paola, Poli Giuseppe and Leonarduzzi Gabriella, Metalloproteinases and Metalloproteinase Inhibitors in Age-Related Diseases, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (18) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113196660701