Increased levels of matrix metalloproteinase I were found in the plasma of RHD patients with valve disease [11]; moreover, protein interaction maps generated with Ingenuity Pathways Analysis have previously shown a possible involvement of MMP-25 targeting vimentin, suggesting that increased proteolytic fragmentation could be involved in the generation of smaller molecular weight N-terminal vimentin isoforms. Here, VIM is linked to rheumatic heart disease.