Furthermore, the correlations between the serum levels of MMP‐2, MMP‐3, MMP‐12 on one the hand and MMP‐9, NGAL, the complex and NE on the other were also evaluated in the COPD‐S group: we identified a single, negative correlation between MMP‐2 and NE (r = −0.293, P = 0.04; Table S2). The gene discussed is MMP3; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.