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Cardiovascular Research 2006 69(3):625-635; doi:10.1016/j.cardiores.2005.11.003
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Copyright © 2005, European Society of Cardiology

Atherosclerosis and proteinase activation

Clare M. Dollery* and Peter Libby

Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine Division of Medicine, Rayne Institute 5 University Street, London, WC1E 6JJ, UK
Leducq Transatlantic Network of Excellence on Atherothrombosis Research, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 20 7679 0916; fax: +44 207 679 6379. Email address: cdollery{at}ucl.ac.uk

Rapidly accumulating evidence points to the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as major molecular mediators of arterial diseases. Findings from human pathological specimens, animals, and cell and molecular biology implicate matrix metalloproteinases in all stages of atherosclerosis including lesion initiation and progression and ultimately in plaque complication and triggering of thrombosis. The complex interactions within the proteolytic cascade allow multiple levels of control over these functions. This review weighs the evidence for the role of MMPs in arterial biology with particular reference to their activation in the atherosclerotic plaque.

KEYWORDS Atherosclerosis; Metalloproteinase; Plaque; Matrix

Time for primary review 26 days


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