“Splitting the matrix”: intussusceptive angiogenesis meets MT 1‐ MMP

Abstract

Pathological angiogenesis contributes to tumour progression as well as to chronic inflammatory diseases. In this issue of EMBO Molecular Medicine, Esteban and co-workers identify endothelial cell MT1-MMP as a key regulator of intussusceptive angiogenesis (IA) in inflammatory colitis. Thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) cleavage by MT1-MMP results in the binding of the c-terminal fragment of TSP1 to alphavbeta3 integrin, which induces nitric oxide (NO) production, vasodilation and further initiation of IA. This novel control mechanism of inflammatory IA points towards promising new therapeutic targets for inflammatory bowel disease.