Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase explained

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are specific endogenous protease inhibitors to the matrix metalloproteinases. There are four TIMPs; TIMP1, TIMP2, TIMP3 and TIMP4.^[1] TIMP3 has been observed progressively downregulated in Human papillomavirus-positive neoplastic keratinocytes derived from uterine cervical preneoplastic lesions at different levels of malignancy. ^[2] For this reason, TIMP3 is likely to be associated with tumorigenesis and may be a potential prognostic marker for uterine cervical preneoplastic lesions progression. ^[3]

Overall, all MMPs are inhibited by TIMPs once they are activated, but the gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) can form complexes with TIMPs when the enzymes are in their latent form.

The complex of latent MMP-2 (pro-MMP-2)with TIMP-2 serves to facilitate the activation of pro-MMP-2 at the cell surface by MT1-MMP (MMP-14), a membrane-anchored MMP.

The role of the pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 complex is still unknown.

Notes and References

1. Brew K, Dinakarpandian D, Nagase H . Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases: evolution, structure and function . Biochim Biophys Acta . 1477 . 1–2 . 267–83 . 2000 . 10708863. 10.1016/S0167-4838(99)00279-4.
2. Rotondo JC, Bosi S, Bassi C, Ferracin M, Lanza G, Gafà R, Magri E, Selvatici R, Torresani S, Marci R, Garutti P, Negrini M, Tognon M, Martini F . Gene expression changes in progression of cervical neoplasia revealed by microarray analysis of cervical neoplastic keratinocytes. . J Cell Physiol . 230. 4 . 802–812 . April 2015 . 25205602 . 10.1002/jcp.24808 . 11392/2066612 . 24986454 . free .
3. Rotondo JC, Bosi S, Bassi C, Ferracin M, Lanza G, Gafà R, Magri E, Selvatici R, Torresani S, Marci R, Garutti P, Negrini M, Tognon M, Martini F . Gene expression changes in progression of cervical neoplasia revealed by microarray analysis of cervical neoplastic keratinocytes. . J Cell Physiol . 230. 4 . 802–812 . April 2015 . 25205602 . 10.1002/jcp.24808 . 11392/2066612 . 24986454 . free .