Plays a role in the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins including fibrillar collagen, fibronectin, TNC and ACAN. Cleaves triple helical collagens, including type I, type II and type III collagen, but has the highest activity with soluble type II collagen. Can also degrade collagen type IV, type XIV and type X. May also function by activating or degrading key regulatory proteins, such as TGFB1 and CCN2. Plays a role in wound healing, tissue remodeling, cartilage degradation, bone development, bone mineralization and ossification. Required for normal embryonic bone development and ossification. Plays a role in the healing of bone fractures via endochondral ossification. Plays a role in wound healing, probably by a mechanism that involves proteolytic activation of TGFB1 and degradation of CCN2. Plays a role in keratinocyte migration during wound healing. May play a role in cell migration and in tumor cell invasion.
Subcellular locations: Secreted, Extracellular space, Extracellular matrix, Secreted
Detected in fetal cartilage and calvaria, in chondrocytes of hypertrophic cartilage in vertebrae and in the dorsal end of ribs undergoing ossification, as well as in osteoblasts and periosteal cells below the inner periosteal region of ossified ribs. Detected in chondrocytes from in joint cartilage that have been treated with TNF and IL1B, but not in untreated chondrocytes. Detected in T lymphocytes. Detected in breast carcinoma tissue.