Recent advances in matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor research

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent enzymes that degrade all of the major components of the extracellular matrix. Over-expression and activation of MMPs have been linked with a range of diseases for which good therapeutic approaches are currently sought, such as arthritis, cancer and multiple sclerosis. Inhibition of MMPs has therefore become the focus of considerable interest, and potential therapeutic applications continue to grow. Orally active, broadspectrum inhibitors have been identified, and some of these are undergoing clinical evaluation. Structural information on MMP-inhibitor complexes is now available, enabling the structure-based design of selective MMP inhibitors.