MMPs as therapeutic targets—Still a viable option?

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) appear to be ideal drug targets—they are disease-associated, extracellular enzymes with a dependence on zinc for activity. This apparently straightforward target, however, is much more complex than initially realized. Although disease associated, the roles for partic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Seminars in cell & developmental biology 2008-02, Vol.19 (1), p.61-68
Main Author: Fingleton, Barbara
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal models
Animals
Clinical Trials as Topic
Drug Delivery Systems
Enzyme Inhibitors - therapeutic use
Humans
Inhibitors
Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors
Matrix Metalloproteinases - physiology
Metabolic Diseases - drug therapy
Models, Animal
Side effects
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) appear to be ideal drug targets—they are disease-associated, extracellular enzymes with a dependence on zinc for activity. This apparently straightforward target, however, is much more complex than initially realized. Although disease associated, the roles for particular enzymes may be healing rather than harmful making broad-spectrum inhibition unwise; targeting the catalytic zinc with specificity is difficult, since other related proteases as well as non-related proteins can be affected by some chelating groups. While the failure of early-generation MMP inhibitors dampened enthusiasm for this type of drug, there has recently been a wealth of studies examining the basic biology of MMPs which will greatly inform new drug trials in this field.
ISSN:1084-9521
1096-3634
DOI:10.1016/j.semcdb.2007.06.006