Blavier L, Henriet P, Imren S, Declerck Y A
Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California 90027, USA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999 Jun 30;878:108-19. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1999.tb07677.x.
Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) play a key regulatory role in the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by controlling the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Some TIMPs have a second function as well, unrelated to their antiMMP activity, which affects cell proliferation and survival. The role of these inhibitors in cancer has been the subject of extensive investigations that have examined their biological activity in tumor growth, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis, as well as their potential use in the diagnosis and treatment of human cancer.
金属蛋白酶组织抑制剂（TIMPs）通过控制基质金属蛋白酶（MMPs）的活性，在细胞外基质（ECM）的稳态中发挥关键的调节作用。一些TIMPs还具有第二种功能，与其抗MMP活性无关，这种功能会影响细胞增殖和存活。这些抑制剂在癌症中的作用一直是广泛研究的主题，这些研究考察了它们在肿瘤生长、侵袭、转移和血管生成中的生物学活性，以及它们在人类癌症诊断和治疗中的潜在用途。
