Role of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (matrilysin) in human cancer invasion, apoptosis, growth, and angiogenesis

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, also known as matrilysin, is a "minimal domain MMP" that exhibits proteolytic activity against components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Matrilysin is frequently overexpressed in human cancer tissues and is associated with cancer progression. Tumorigenesis is a multistep process involving cell growth, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Matrilysin has been shown to play important roles not only in degradation of ECM proteins, but also in the regulation of several biochemical processes such as activation, degradation, and shedding of non-ECM proteins. This minireview provides a summary of the current literature on the roles of matrilysin in tumorigenesis with a focus on the roles of modifications of non-ECM proteins by matrilysin and other related MMPs in tumorigenesis. Proteolysis of insulin-like growth factor binding protein by matrilysin results in increased bioavailability of insulin-like growth factors and enhanced cellular proliferation. Matrilysin has also been implicated in the ectodomain shedding of several cell surface molecules. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor precursor (proHB-EGF) is cleaved by matrilysin into mature HB-EGF, which promotes cellular proliferation. Membrane-bound Fas ligand (FasL) is cleaved into soluble FasL, which increases apoptosis of cells adjacent to tumor cells. E-cadherin is converted to soluble E-cadherin to promote invasion. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha precursor is cleaved to release soluble TNF-alpha to increase apoptosis. We propose that these matrilysin-mediated pathways provide the necessary and logical mechanisms to promote cancer progression.