title: The role of matrix metalloproteinases in cystic fibrosis lung disease.
abstract: Significant airway remodelling is a major component of the increased morbidity and mortality observed in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. These airways feature ongoing leukocytic inflammation and unrelenting bacterial infection. In contrast to acute bacterial pneumonia, CF infection is not cleared efficiently and the ensuing inflammatory response causes tissue damage. This structural damage is mainly a result of free proteolytic activity released by infiltrated neutrophils and macrophages. Major proteases in this disease are serine and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). While the role of serine proteases, such as elastase, has been characterised in detail, there is emerging evidence that MMPs could play a key role in the pathogenesis of CF lung disease. This review summarises studies linking MMPs with CF lung disease and discusses the potential value of MMPs as future therapeutic targets in CF and other chronic lung diseases.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35244, USA. agaggar@uab.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaggar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hector
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Bratcher
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mall
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griese
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hartl
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases