TIMP3 and chronic kidney disease: Moreover, TIMP3 is the only known physiological inhibitor of ADAM17, a metalloprotease responsible for shedding of several ligands, in particular HB-EGF and TGFα, which are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease and glomerulonephritis (Bollee et al, 2011; Lautrette et al, 2005).