Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein in metalloproteinase-mediated pathologies: recent insights

Abstract

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP)-1, LRP-1b, LRP-2, LRP-5, and LRP-6 mediate the endocytosis of metalloproteinases and inhibitors and/or promote the expression of metalloproteinases. These properties confer important and complex roles in the development of pathologies related to an intense proteolytic degradation of the cellular microen- vironment. The cell surface levels of the identified endocytic receptors, LRP-1, LRP-1b, and LRP-2, are themselves regulated by metalloproteinases. The released extra- and intracellular domains may also exert functions in these pathologies.