Hypoxia, which is associated with extracellular matrix remodeling in inflammatory lung diseases, such as fibrosis, COPD, and asthma, upregulated the expression of MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 precursors without subsequent activation in human lung fibroblasts and pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells. The gene discussed is MMP1; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.