基质金属蛋白酶(matrix metalloproteinases,MMPs)是降解细胞外基质(ECM)的主要蛋白酶。基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制物(tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases,TIMPs)是组织中MMPs主要的内源性抑制因子,至今共有4种。肝纤维化早期MMPs轻度升高;而肝纤维化的中晚期,MMPs活性则明显降低,TIMPs的表达显著增加。一旦肝纤维化逆转,MMPs的表达又显著增强,而TIMPs的表达逐渐降低。表明MMPs和TIMPs与肝纤维化的发生和发展密切相关。 Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the major proteases that degrade extracellular matrix (ECM). Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are the major endogenous inhibitors of MMPs in tissues, and there are 4 kinds of them so far. In the early stage of hepatic fibrosis, MMPs activity was significantly decreased and TIMPs expression was significantly increased. Once the liver fibrosis reversed, the expression of MMPs increased significantly, while the expression of TIMPs gradually decreased. It showed that MMPs and TIMPs are closely related to the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis.