This gene encodes a member of the matrix metalloproteinase family. Proteins in this family are involved in the breakdown of extracellular matrix for both normal physiological processes, such as embryonic development, reproduction, and tissue remodeling, and disease processes, such as asthma and metastasis. The encoded protein may play an important role in embryogenesis, particularly in neuronal cells, as well as in lymphocyte development and survival.[6]
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Marchenko GN, Strongin AY (Mar 2001). "MMP-28, a new human matrix metalloproteinase with an unusual cysteine-switch sequence is widely expressed in tumors". Gene. 265 (1–2): 87–93. doi:10.1016/S0378-1119(01)00360-2. PMID11255011.
Brinckerhoff CE, Matrisian LM (2002). "Matrix metalloproteinases: a tail of a frog that became a prince". Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 3 (3): 207–14. doi:10.1038/nrm763. PMID11994741. S2CID31565770.
Ahokas K, Karjalainen-Lindsberg ML, Sihvo E, et al. (2006). "Matrix metalloproteinases 21 and 26 are differentially expressed in esophageal squamous cell cancer". Tumour Biol. 27 (3): 133–41. doi:10.1159/000092774. PMID16641547. S2CID21325640.
Shagisultanova EI, Novikova IA, Sidorenko YS, et al. (2004). "The matrix metalloproteinase-21 gene 572C/T polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer". Anticancer Res. 24 (1): 199–201. PMID15015597.
Ahokas K, Lohi J, Lohi H, et al. (2003). "Matrix metalloproteinase-21, the human orthologue for XMMP, is expressed during fetal development and in cancer". Gene. 301 (1–2): 31–41. doi:10.1016/S0378-1119(02)01088-0. PMID12490321.
