MMP9 and rheumatoid arthritis: Of 35 inflammation-related genes examined, stable RA patients maintained on DMARD therapy exhibited increased expression of 14 genes (CD14, CXCL1, HMOX1, HSPA1A, ICAM1, IL18, IL1RN, IL1B, MMP9, PTGS2, PTPRC, TGFB1, TIMP1, and TNFSF13B) and decreased expression of 5 genes (CD19, CD3Z, HLA-DRB1, TNFRSF13B, and VEGF) compared to healthy controls (P < 0.05) (Table 3, Figure 1B).