The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-13) in Periodontal and Peri-Implant Pathological Processes

Severe periodontitis, a destructive inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth, ranks sixth in terms of global spread, affecting about 11% of the population. Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are extracellular matrix (ECM) macromolecules that are important in cellular development and morphogenesis, and they are capable of activating growth factors in their proximity, cell surface receptors, and adhesion molecules. MMPs are part of a major family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases, and their activity is modulated and regulated by certain inhibitors known as tissue metalloproteinase inhibitors (TIMPs). Because type I collagen is the major component of the periodontal extracellular matrix, special…