However, action of the MMPs, including MMP-9, have been well documented to play critical roles in tissue repair and remodeling following stroke (Lenglet et al., 2015), particularly in angiogenesis and re-establishment of cerebral blood flow with long-term MMP inhibition shown to markedly reduce neuronal plasticity and impair vascular remodeling (Zhao et al., 2006, 2007). The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is Stroke.