Metastasis

By Jamshed Arslan, Pharm. D., PhD.

By Jamshed Arslan, Pharm. D., PhD.

By Yoskaly Lazo-Fernandez, PhD

By Yoskaly Lazo-Fernandez, PhD

By Jamshed Arslan Pharm.D.

By Christina Towers, PhD.

MMP2 is a 72 kDa enzymatic protein and it belongs to matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a heterogenous family of zinc/calcium-dependent TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases) regulated matrix-degrading endopeptidases which are classified into collagenases (MMP-1, -8, -13, -18), gelatinases (MMP-2, -9), stromelysins (MMP-3, -7, -10, -11), elastase (MMP-12), and membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMP-1 through -5) (1). MMP2 involves in extracellular matrix metabolism and cleaves type IV collagen along with degrading the already denatured collagens.

CD63 is a type II membrane protein belonging to tetraspanin superfamily and it play key roles in the activation of several cellular signaling cascades along with acting as TIMP1 receptor. It is expressed by activated platelets, monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, T /B cells, and different type of cancer cells. CD63 localizes to endosomes, lysosomes and on the cellular surfaces, and is often considered as a marker for late endosomes as well as for lysosomes.