Vascular remodeling and protease inhibition - bench to bedside

Physiological and pathological tissue remodeling needs an orderly degradation of the extracellular matrix. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteases capable of degrading different extracellular matrix components, including collagen and elastin. MMP expression is strongly enhanced in vascular pathologies such as stenosis following balloon dilation, in-stent restenosis, sustained flow changes, aneurysm formation, and atherosclerosis. Experimental studies have revealed that some biological actions of MMPs aggravate a pathological condition, whereas others may be beneficial for the patient suffering from atherosclerotic disease. Therefore, a better understanding of the biological consequence and regulation of MMP activity is critical for the design and potential application of specific MM-P inhibitors in vascular disease.