There are a few examples of a role for MMPs in the pathogenesis of Leishmania infection: in a murine model of L. chagasi infection, production of MMP-9 by macrophages was associated with tissue damage [38]; high levels of mRNA to MMP-2 were documented in ulcers of CL patients and in macrophages from mucosal leishmaniasis patients; and upon infection with L. braziliensis human macrophages increased secretion of MMP-9 [19]. The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is infection.