TIMP-3 Background Information
TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 (for tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1, 2, 3 and 4) complex with metalloproteinases such as collagenases, gelatin-ases and stromelysins, resulting in irreversible inactivation of the metallopro-teinase. TIMP-1 has been found to be identical to EPA (erythroid-potentiation activity). Parathyroid hormone has been shown to be a regulator of TIMP-2 in osteoblastic cells. TIMP-3 may be involved in regulating trophoblastic invasion of the uterus and remodeling of the extracellular matrix during the folding of epithelia, and in the formation, branching and expansion of epithelial tubes. TIMP-4 is most highly expressed in heart, with low levels expressed in liver, brain, lung, thymus and spleen.
