Matrix Metalloproteinase 3: A Promoting and Destabilizing Factor in the Pathogenesis of Disease and Cell Differentiation

Jiangtao Wan; Guowei Zhang; Xin Li; Xianshuai Qiu; Jun Ouyang; Jingxing Dai; Shaoxiong Min

doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.663978

Matrix Metalloproteinase 3: A Promoting and Destabilizing Factor in the Pathogenesis of Disease and Cell Differentiation

Front Physiol. 2021 Jul 2:12:663978. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.663978. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Jiangtao Wan¹, Guowei Zhang¹, Xin Li¹, Xianshuai Qiu¹, Jun Ouyang², Jingxing Dai², Shaoxiong Min¹

Affiliations

¹ Spine Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
² Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Abstract

Cells must alter their expression profiles and morphological characteristics but also reshape the extracellular matrix (ECM) to fulfill their functions throughout their lifespan. Matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) is a member of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family, which can degrade multiple ECM components. MMP-3 can activate multiple pro-MMPs and thus initiates the MMP-mediated degradation reactions. In this review, we summarized the function of MMP-3 and discussed its effects on biological activities. From this point of view, we emphasized the positive and negative roles of MMP-3 in the pathogenesis of disease and cell differentiation, highlighting that MMP-3 is especially closely involved in the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis. Then, we discussed some pathways that were shown to regulate MMP-3. By writing this review, we hope to provide new topics of interest for researchers and attract more researchers to investigate MMP-3.

Keywords: cell differentiation; extracellular matrix; matrix metalloproteinase 3; osteoarthritis; stem cells.

Publication types

Review