TIMP3 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3), along with family members TIMP1, TIMP2, and TIMP4, are inhibitors of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a group of peptidases involved in degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). An imbalance between MMPs and the associated TIMPs may play a significant role in the invasive phenotype of malignant tumors. TIMP
