Background Allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma share many characteristics, but structural changes are observed far less often in AR as compared to asthma and also that in nasal polyps. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can decompose the extracellular matrix and regulate cell infiltration. In order to understand the role of MMPs in AR, we analyzed the expression of MMPs and their inhibitors, tissue...

After Reperfusion in Rat Brain Matrix Metalloproteinases and TIMPs Are Associated With Blood-Brain Barrier Opening Print ISSN: 0039-2499. Online ISSN: 1524-4628 Copyright © 1998 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. is published by the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231 Stroke doi: 10.1161/01.STR.29.10.2189 1998;29:2189-2195 Stroke. http://strok...

Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are important enzymes required in extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation for creating the cellular environments to maintain numerous physiological processes ranging from development to wound repair. However, MMP activity is strictly controlled and imbalance in the levels of MMP family members and its inhibitors has been implicated as an etiological factor in sever...

The extracellular matrix (ECM) does not simply maintain the form of tissues; it is a dynamic factor that plays a major role in cell function. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the most important enzymes in ECM degradation, and their activity is controlled strictly by specific inhibitors, that is tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs). We assessed the clinical course of changes in ECM...

What makes an MMP an MMP? They all have a conserved zinc-binding site in their catalytic domain (HEXGHXXGXXH), and the sequence PRCGVPD in the propeptide domain. The cysteine residue serves to anchor the propeptide to the catalytic zinc, suppressing enzymatic activity in a manner that is not unlike a thumb in an open mouth. Release of this interaction results in proteolytic activity. MMPs are a...

Purpose: Ileal carcinoids are gut epithelial tumors originating from serotonin-containing enterochromaffin (EC) cells. Therapeutic options for effectively inhibiting the growth and spread of metastatic carcinoids are still limited. We aimed to identify the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) during tumor development and metastasis. Patients an...

Purpose. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (ATRA-NLCs) on the zymosan-induced expression of the cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ and the matrix metalloproteinases/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (MMPs/TIMPs) and TLR2 in rabbit corneal fibroblasts (RCFs). Methods. ATRA-NLCs were prepared by emulsification. RCFs were isol...