Matrix Metalloproteinases: Pathophysiologic Implications and Potential Therapeutic Targets in Cardiovascular Disease

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a crucial role in extracellular matrix remodeling and are implicated in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Recent research highlights MMPs' involvement beyond ECM degradation, influencing lipoprotein metabolism, inflammatory signaling, and intracellular processes critical for cardiovascular homeostasis. Despite their pathological role, MMPs remain promising therapeutic targets, with pharmacological inhibitors, gene therapy, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) emerging as potential interventions. However, the clinical translation of MMP-targeting therapies remains challenging due to off-target effects and complex regulatory mechanisms.

Key Takeaways:

• MMPs are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that play a crucial role in extracellular matrix remodeling and are implicated in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases.
• Dysregulation of MMPs has been linked to atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and aortic stenosis, contributing to vascular inflammation, plaque destabilization, and adverse cardiac remodeling.
• Recent research highlights MMPs' involvement beyond ECM degradation, influencing lipoprotein metabolism, inflammatory signaling, and intracellular processes critical for cardiovascular homeostasis.
• MMPs remain promising therapeutic targets, with pharmacological inhibitors, gene therapy, and TIMPs emerging as potential interventions.
• However, the clinical translation of MMP-targeting therapies remains challenging due to off-target effects and complex regulatory mechanisms.
• This review aims to bridge the gap between fundamental research and clinical applications by providing an updated synthesis of the molecular mechanisms, disease-specific roles, and therapeutic implications of MMPs in cardiovascular pathology.
• The study highlights the complex role of MMPs in cardiovascular disease and emphasizes the need for further research to explore their therapeutic potential.
• Delta Maria Tanase and co-authors conducted the study, which was published in the journal Biomolecules in 2025.
• The study provides an in-depth analysis of the molecular mechanisms, disease-specific roles, and therapeutic implications of MMPs in cardiovascular pathology.
• The review concludes that MMPs remain promising therapeutic targets, and further research is needed to explore their clinical potential.

Statistics:

• 15 is the volume number of the journal Biomolecules in which the study was published.
• 4 is the issue number of the journal Biomolecules in which the study was published.
• 598 is the page number of the journal article.
• The study was published in 2025, as indicated by the copyright notice.
• 2025 is the year in which the study was published.

Sources:

• Biomolecules, 2025,15(4):598.
• "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania.