Hypothesis

Abstract

The hypothesis that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors reduce risks of cardiovascular disease in humans is plausible, unproven, and difficult to test, due, in part, to differences in specificity and route of administration. Endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are tight-binding, protein inhibitors that function in vivo and can be engineered to enhance specificity for desired targets. Nonetheless, TIMPs have been difficult to test, in part, because their secondary functions, including cell growth promotion and angiogenesis, raise concerns about side effects and they cannot be delivered orally. In contrast, doxycycline and other chemically modified tetracyclines are broad-spectrum, reversible MMP inhibitors with lower affinity but can be taken orally and have US Food and Drug Administration approval. The completed phase 2 randomized trials in humans of MMP inhibitors have methodologic limitations but generally show no significant benefits with adverse effects. At present, the principal research challenge is to achieve a better understanding of the complexities of biological functions of MMPs and subsequently to conduct large-scale phase 3 trials.