Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases

The matrix metalloproteinases are inhibited by specific endogenous tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which comprise a family of four protease inhibitors: TIMP1, TIMP2, TIMP3 and TIMP4.

Overall, all MMPs are inhibited by TIMPs once they are activated but the gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) can form complexes with TIMPs when the enzymes are in the latent form.

The complex of latent MMP-2 (pro-MMP-2)with TIMP-2 serves to facilitate the activation of pro-MMP-2 at the cell surface by MT1-MMP (MMP-14), a membrane-anchored MMP.

The role of the pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 complex is still unknown.