What does TIMP mean in Medical?

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase

The matrix metalloproteinases are inhibited by specific endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, which comprise a family of four protease inhibitors: TIMP1, TIMP2, TIMP3 and TIMP4. Overall, all MMPs are inhibited by TIMPs once they are activated but the gelatinases can form complexes with TIMPs when the enzymes are in the latent form. The complex of latent MMP-2 with TIMP-2 serves to facilitate the activation of pro-MMP-2 at the cell surface by MT1-MMP, a membrane-anchored MMP. The role of the pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 complex is still unknown.

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