Recombinant Rat MMP-8 Protein, CF

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc and calcium dependent endopeptidases with the combined ability to degrade all the components of the extracellular matrix. MMP-8 (neutrophil collagenase, collagenase 2) is expressed in neutrophils, where it is stored in specific granules. MMP-8 release from the neutrophils is stimulated by various factors such as interleukins 1 and 8, TNF-alpha and GM-CSF. MMP-8 is capable of cleaving types I, II and III triple-helical collagen, gelatin peptides, fibronectin, proteoglycans, aggrecan, serpins, beta-casein and peptides such as angiotensin and substance P. In addition to its function in phagocytosis, MMP-8 has a high capacity for infiltrating connective tissue, and is implicated in the breakdown of the extracellular matrix in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Structurally, MMP-8 consists of several domains: a pro-domain that is cleaved upon activation, a catalytic domain containing the zinc-binding site, a short hinge region and a hemopexin-like domain (1).