title: Roles and regulation of the matrix metalloproteinase system in parturition.
abstract: Significant tissue destruction, repair, and remodeling are involved in parturition, which involves fetal membrane rupture, cervical ripening, and uterine contraction and its subsequent involution. Extracellular matrix degradation and remodeling by proteolytic enzymes, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), are required for the final steps of parturition. MMPs participate in physiological degradation and remodeling through their proteolytic activities on specific substrates, and are balanced by the action of their inhibitors. Disruption to this balance can result in pathological stress that ends with preterm or post-term birth or pre-eclampsia. In this review, we examine the roles and regulation of the MMP system in physiological and pathological labor, and propose a model that illustrates the mechanisms by which the MMP system contributes to these processes.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Agricultural Ministry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.|The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Junnan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Agricultural Ministry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.|The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Agricultural Ministry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.|The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Siwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D036801:Parturition / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases