In a previous study, genetic ablation of MMP-2 resulted in an exacerbated level of collagen antibody-induced arthritis, while the lack of MMP-9 attenuated it compared to the wildtype mice indicating suppressive role of MMP-2 and pro-inflammatory role of MMP-9 in the process (Itoh et al., 2002). Here, MMP2 is linked to arthritic joint disease.