Fibrosis is a type of chronic organ failure, resulting in the excessive secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM protects wound tissue from infection and additional injury, and is gradually degraded during wound healing. For some unknown reasons, myofibroblasts (the cells that secrete ECM) do not undergo apoptosis; this is associated with the continuous secretion of ECM and reduced ECM degradation even during de novo tissue formation. Thus, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are considered to be a potential target of fibrosis treatment because they are the main groups of ECM-degrading enzymes. However, MMPs participate not only in ECM degradation but also in the development of various biological processes that show the potential to treat diseases such as stroke, cardiovascular diseases, and arthritis. Therefore, treatment involving the targeting of MMPs might impede typical functions. Here, we evaluated the links between these MMP functions and possible detrimental effects of fibrosis treatment, and also considered possible approaches for further applications.
Keywords: extracellular matrix; fibrosis; matrix metalloproteinase.