MMP2 and diabetic kidney disease: Based on our prior studies with renal tubule-specific transgenic expression of the FL-MMP-2 isoform, we suggest that the final pathologic phenotype of diabetic nephropathy is induced by the combined actions of the FL-MMP-2 isoform on the tubular basement membrane and on the induction of tubular cell necrosis and inflammation by the NTT-MMP-2 isoform.