title: Matrix metalloproteinases and their endogenous inhibitors in neuronal physiology of the adult brain.
abstract: More than 20 matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and four of their endogenous tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) act together to control tightly temporally restricted, focal proteolysis of extracellular matrix. In the neurons of the adult brain several components of the TIMP/MMP system are expressed and are responsive to changes in neuronal activity. Furthermore, functional studies, especially involving blocking of MMP activities, along with the identification of MMP substrates in the brain strongly suggest that this enzymatic system plays an important physiological role in adult brain neurons, possibly being pivotal for neuronal plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute, 02-093 Warsaw, Pasteura 3, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dzwonek
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rylski
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaczmarek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9