The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Renal Diseases

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc dependent proteinases and the main promoters of extracellular matrix degradation. Their role in renal diseases is now being understood better. Several progressive renal diseases are characterized with persistent cell proliferation and abnormal production of extracellular matrix by mesengial cells. Understanding mesengial cell proliferation and the factors regulating extracellular matrix metabolism is therefore becoming more important. MMPs have been shown to be produced and excreted from renal glomerular cells and interstitital fibroblast and tubuloepithelial cells have also been shown to excrete MMPs. MMPs function in expansive cell behaviour, embryonic evolution and tissue fibrosis. Production of MMPs are known to increase in inflammation and restructure processes. Data obtained from both experimental and clinical studies has shown the role of MMPs in proliferative glomerulonephritis, hypertensive nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, HIV nephropathy, toxic nephropathy, obstructive nephropathy, renal cell carcinoma, chronic allograft nephropathy-related fibrosis and in many other renal diseases. In light of these data, therapy options targeting MMPs have become a current issue. Limited data obtained from recent studies are promising about the clinical use of therapies repressing MMPs in future. The roles of MMPs which increase in inflammation and restructure processes in renal diseases and future therapy options are discussed in this review.