Endocrine Abstracts

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play critical roles in embryonic development, morphogenesis, blastocyst implantation, ovulation, post-partum uterine involution, endometrial cycling, bone remodelling and wound healing, and in diseases such as arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, tissue ulceration and fibrosis. Currently, twenty-four vertebrate MMPs have been reported. An important feature of the MMPs is that many of these genes are inducible by growth factors, cytokines...