Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc and calcium dependent endopeptidases with the combined ability to degrade all the components of the extracellular matrix. MMP-7 (matrilysin) is expressed in epithelial cells of normal and diseased tissues, and is capable of digesting a large series of proteins of the extracellular matrix including collagen IV and X, gelatin, casein, laminin, aggrecan, entactin, elastin and versican. MMP-7 is implicated in the activation of other proteinases such as plasminogen, MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9.
