Advances on the relationship between matrix metalloproteinases-9 and liver fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is caused by the imbalance between matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinasas(TIMPs),which can result in the deposition of a large number of extracellular matrix in the interstitial cells and the pathological changes.The current studies have found that MMP-9 plays an important role in the process of inducing and promoting liver fibrosis.On the contrary,there are some opinions that MMP-9 can reverse liver fibrosis and there is a negative correlation between MMP-9 and liver fibrosis.Therefore,this review will elucidate the new advances on the function of MMP-9 in recent years.