Matrix Degradative Enzyme Activities on Cardiac Remodeling in Heart Failure

The development of congestive heart failure is associated with left ventricular dilation and myocardial remodeling. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMP) activities play a significant role in extracellular remodeling. The inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is proposed to affect myocardial remodeling and modulate myocyte cell growth and fibrosis. The synthesis of MMPs is also regulated by TNF-α in vitro study. However, it is not fully known that whether tissue TNF-α is associated with expressions for MMPs and TIMPs of infarcted myocardium in animal model.