The presence of promatrix metalloproteinase-3 and its relation with different categories of coal workers' pneumoconiosis

Abstract

Extracellular matrix formation (ECM) and remodeling are critical events related to the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Matrix metalloproteinases play an essential role in degrading and remodeling the ECM. In this study, we tried to show the presence and correlation of promatrix metalloproteinase-3 (proMMP-3) ( the inactive form of metalloproteinase-3) levels in coal workers' pneumoconiosis ( CWP) with different categories.