... of the renin–angiotensin system, is a clinical problem present in a small number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The mechanism underlying this resistant albuminuria remains unknown. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and renal diseases...

... such as tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are thought to be involved in this inflammatory process and, therefore, to play an important role in the pathogenesis of human AAA. TNF-α-converting enzyme (TACE) has recently been purified and cloned as a disintegrin and metalloproteinase that converts TNF-α precursor...