Parks, William

Research in my laboratory focuses on three matrix metalloproteinases-matrilysin (MMP-7), stromelysin-2 (MMP-10), and epilysin (MMP-28) - and how these secreted enzymes function in defense and repair. We are primarily interested in the innate immune functions conferred by the epithelium, including defense against microorganisms, wound repair and differentiation, and recruitment of inflammatory cells, and how MMPs regulate aspects of macrophage function and activation. We have determined that these three MMPs serve distinct, non-overlaping functions in several distinct processes of innate immunity. Our goal is to understand mechanism; that is, to identify the physiologic protein substrates of individual MMPs whose cleavage regulates specific processes, such as neutrophil activation, cell migration, etc.