Matrikines (MKs), the products of enzymatic fragmentation of various extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, regulate cellular activity by interacting with specific receptors. MKs affect cell growth, proliferation, and migration, can induce apoptosis and autophagy, and are also effectively used in biomedicine and functional nutrition. Recently, there has been great interest in the structural features and biological activity of MKs from various sources. This review summarized and analyzed the results of modern research on MKs from sea cucumbers, primarily from trepang (MKT). Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the existing knowledge on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic activities of these MKs and the possible mechanisms of their protective action.
Keywords: biological activity; enzymatic transformation; matrikines (MKs); sea cucumbers; trepang Apostichopus japonicus MKs (MKT).