Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-1

TIMP-1 (Tissue Inhibitor of metalloproteinases -1) is a widely expressed glycoprotein which regulates matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and disintegrin-metalloproteinases (ADAMs and ADAMTSs). In addition to its inhibitory role against most of the known MMPs, the encoded protein is able to promote cell proliferation in a wide range of cell types, and may also have an anti-apoptotic function. TIMP-1 is thought to play a significant role in cancer development; increased expression of TIMP-1 has been found to be associated with poor prognosis for laryngeal carcinoma and melanoma.