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Regulation of myocardial matrix metalloproteinase expression and activity by cardiac fibroblasts
Author(s) -
Turner Neil A.,
Porter Karen E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1002/iub.594
Subject(s) - matrix metalloproteinase , extracellular matrix , proteases , myocardial infarction , ventricular remodeling , microbiology and biotechnology , heart failure , cardiomyopathy , medicine , cancer research , chemistry , biology , enzyme , biochemistry
Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) play a key role in orchestrating the structural remodeling of the myocardium in response to injury or stress, in part through direct regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of over 25 zinc‐dependent proteases that together have the capacity to degrade all the protein components of the ECM. Fibroblasts are a major source of several MMPs in the heart, thereby representing a viable therapeutic target for regulating ECM turnover in cardiac pathologies characterized by adverse remodeling, such as myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, hypertension and heart failure. This review summarizes current knowledge on the identity and regulation of MMPs expressed by CF and discusses future directions for reducing adverse myocardial remodeling by modulating the expression and/or activity of CF‐derived MMPs. © 2012 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 2012.