Matricryptins derived from non fibrillar collagens,MMP-2 and SPARC are involved in the control of angiogenesis

The name matricryptin was proposed by Davis et al. (2000) for enzymatic fragments of extracellular matrix containing exposed matricryptic sites. The exposure of these sites occurred after structural or conformational modifications. Matricryptins derived from non fibrillar collagens (IV, VIII, XV and XVIII) and from matrix metalloproteinase-2 inhibit angiogenesis and tumor growth. Proteolysis of SPARC releases several peptides which exert opposite effects on angiogenesis. Matricryptins derived from glycosaminoglycans also participate in the control of angiogenesis.