MMP-3 enzyme is also known as Stromelysin-1or as Transin-1 which hydrolyzes natural collagen at physiological pH and temperature. It dissolves the intervertebral nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus of Herniated Lumbar Intervertebral Disk . MMP-3 hydrolyzes components of the extracellular matrix like proteoglycan， laminin， fibronectin， gelatin and collagen types III， IV and IX. It also activates pro-MMP-9 and pro-MMP-8 and superactivates plasmin activated MMP-1. MMP-3 is secreted as a latent proenzyme and is activated by a variety of proteinases， e.g. plasmin， trypsin， chymotrypsin， cathepsin G or human neutrophil elastase. MMP-3 was found to be capable of activating the precursor of IL1-beta.
