PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R.E. Vandenbroucke
AU  - E. Dejonckheere
AU  - C. Libert
TI  - A therapeutic role for MMP inhibitors in lung diseases?
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00027411
DP  - 2011 Jan 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - erj00274-2011
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/06/09/09031936.00027411.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/06/09/09031936.00027411.full
AB  - Disruption of the balance between matrix metalloproteinases and their endogenous inhibitors is considered a key event in the development of pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, interstitial lung diseases and lung cancer. This imbalance often results in elevated net MMP activity, making MMP inhibition an attractive therapeutic strategy. Although promising results have been obtained, the lack of selective MMP inhibitors together with the limited knowledge about the exact functions of a particular MMP hampers the clinical application. This review discusses the involvement of different MMPs in lung disorders and future opportunities and limitations of therapeutic MMP inhibition.