In periodontal disease MMP synthesis and secretion is dysregulated, the balance of MMPs and TIMPs is altered, and the levels of neutrophil MMPs such as MMP-8 and MMP-9 are elevated, likely due to greatly increased numbers of neutrophils emigrating into the periodontitis lesion and the GCF as the result of the inflammatory process [60]. The gene discussed is MMP8; the disease is periodontitis.