Biochemical
and Bioimaging Endpoints in Cardiocerebrovascular Diagnosis,
Prevention, Therapy and Drug Development
GLOSSARY
To
facilitate the dialogue among the multidisciplinary scientists,
definition of the acronyms and of more specialized terms have been
reported.
Every amendment is welcome.
By: Andrea P. Peracino
Stefano Bellosta
Nicola Ferri
Riccardo Roggeri
Matrix metallo-proteinases - MMPs are a group of enzymes thought to be responsible for both normal connective tissue matrix remodelling and accelerated breakdown associated with tumor development. The distribution of 3 major matrix metallo-proteinases was studied in human mammary pathology: collagenase (MMP1) which degrades fibrillar interstitial collagens, a 72-kDa gelatinase (MMP2) which mainly degrades type IV collagen and denatured collagens, stromelysin (MMP3) which has a wider range of action, degrading several matrix components including the core proteins of proteoglycans, laminin and non-helical regions of collagens, 92kDa gelatinase/type IV collagenase, gelatinase B (MMP9).