Monoclonal antibody HM2388 recognizes human metallo proteinase-2 (MMP2 or gelatinase-A). MMPs are a large class of zinc dependent catalytic enzymes. They cleave or degrade virtually all components of the extracellular matrix. MMPs are involved in a wide range of processes like tissue remodeling, wound healing, angiogenesis and regulation of inflammatory processes. They are also involved in pathological processes such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, atherosclerosis and tumor growth and metastasis. MMPs are formed as inactive zymogens which must be cleaved to become active. Activated MMPs are inhibited by four TIMPs. TIMP and MMP expression and function are tightly regulated in order to contain a balance in proteolysis and proteolysis inhibition.MMP2 (72Kda) is secreted as an inactive proMMP2and becomes active when captured by membrane bound MMPs. The amino-acid sequence is quite conserved (96-97%) between human, pig, rat and mouse. MMP2 has a well-known role in tumor growth, invasion and metastasis and is correlated with poor prognosis in some tumors.