MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES IN CORNEAL REPAIR. REVIEW

Abstract

The Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that have the function of maintenance and remodeling of tissue architecture. They act on the extracellular matrix components, secrete cytokines and molecules of the ocular surface, and have been related to a variety of physiological processes and diseases, such as corneal ulcers, which are one of the most frequent diseases in veterinary ophthalmology. After corneal injury, multiple systems are activated, producing a serie of complex and coordinated cellular processes involving growth factors, cytokines, proteinases and their inhibitors, resulting in the repair of the cornea. The main proteinases present in the cornea are MMPs and serine proteinases. An imbalance between proteinases and their inhibitors in favor of the proteinases, cause pathologic degradation of stromal collagen and proteoglycans, leading to a persistent corneal ulceration or corneal melting, and may result in the loss of animal vision. The aim of this review is to present the main studies related to the involvement of MMPs during corneal repair and their pathological processes.