In ulcer tissues, MMP and TIMP-1 expressions were similar between different gender or between different ulcer locations (Female versus male in the superficial epithelium: MMP-7, P = 0.46; MMP-9, P = 0.11; TIMP-1, P = 0.34; in inflammatory cells of the lamina propria: MMP-3, P = 0.96; MMP-9, P = 0.60; TIMP-1, P = 0.26; Antrum versus corpus versus both in the superficial epithelium: MMP-7, P = 0.23; MMP-9, P = 0.30; TIMP-1, P = 0.21; in inflammatory cells of the lamina propria: MMP-3, P = 0.64; MMP-9, P = 0.58; TIMP-1, P = 0.41). Here, MMP7 is linked to ulcer disease.