Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and extracellular matrix in Kaposi’s Sarcoma

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) tumorigenesis and may contribute to the mechanism of KS invasive growth. To date, only a few MMPs have been studied in KS lesions, and exactly which MMPs are involved in KS development and progression remains unanswered. However, MMPs 2 and 9 have been associated with different phases of angiogenesis, but their role in the proteolytic modification of the extracellular matrix has not been investigated. The results of this study confirm that MMPs, specifically MMP-2 and MMP-9, can contribute to angiogenesis by disrupting the vessel basement membrane and other extracellular matrix barriers, and enabling endothelial cells migration through the surrounding tissues