title: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and autoimmune diseases.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (also named matrixin or MMPs) are a major group of enzymes that regulate cell-matrix composition by using zinc for their proteolytic activities. They are essential for various normal biological processes such as embryonic development, morphogenesis, reproduction tissue resorption, and remodeling. Metalloproteinases also play a role in pathological processes including inflammation, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases and cancer. Herein we review the involvement of MMP-9 in a variety of autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, polymyositis and atherosclerosis. MMP-9 plays either a primary or secondary role in each one of those autoimmune diseases by its up or down-regulation. It is not expressed constantly but rather is induced or suppressed by many regulating molecules. This feature of MMP-9 along with its involvement in disease pathogenesis turns it into a target for therapy of autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine B & Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center Tel-Hashomer, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.forename: Yaniv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sherer
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9