MMP2 and Ventricular hypertrophy: Based on our prior in vitro studies with model cardiomyoblast H9C2 cells, we hypothesized that cardiac-specific transgenic expression of the NTT-MMP-2 isoform would result in progressive cardiomyocyte and ventricular hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and inflammatory cell infiltration with mononuclear cells.