Similarly, we demonstrated that RBM isolated from human kidney samples with XAS displays an increased susceptibility to proteolytic degradation by MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9, and that the progression of renal disease in patients with XAS is associated with increased expression of MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 as in theα3(IV)−/− mice. The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is kidney disorder.