Metalloprotease that mediates cleavage of N-cadherin (CDH2) and acts as a regulator of neuro-immune interactions and neural stem cell quiescence. Involved in cell-cell interactions between nociceptive neurites and mast cells, possibly by mediating cleavage of CDH2, thereby acting as a mediator of peripheral thermal nociception and inflammatory hyperalgesia. Key regulator of neural stem cells quiescence by mediating cleavage of CDH2, affecting CDH2-mediated anchorage of neural stem cells to ependymocytes in the adult subependymal zone, leading to modulate their quiescence. May play a role in axonal growth. Able to activate progelatinase A. May also be a proteoglycanase involved in degradation of proteoglycans, such as dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. Cleaves partially fibronectin, but not collagen type I, nor laminin.
