Olejar Books

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes believed to be implicated in many physiological and pathological processes associated with inflammatory reaction. MMP synthesis and functions are regulated by three major mechanisms including transcriptional activation, post-transcriptional processing, and control of activity by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Many cell types have been identified as producers of MMPs and TIMPs in a context of inflammatory process. MMPs are involved in numerous inflammatory diseases, including respiratory pathologies, arthritis and diseases of various organs. This volume provides new advances regarding the involvement of MMPs in various diseases associated with inflammatory processes. Moreover, the recent development of selective and non selective inhibitors of MMPs give new insights in the relationship between activation of inflammatory cells and tissue remodelling and advise new therapeutic possibilities to the treatment of inflammatory disease.