Interestingly, allergen-sensitized and -challenged transgenic mice overexpressing human MMP-2 had significantly less eosinophils, mucin-secreting cells and concentration of Th2 cytokines, eotaxin, and IgE in the lungs together with significantly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness compared to their wild type counterparts, suggesting that human MMP-2 is protective against allergic bronchial asthma. This evidence concerns the gene IGHE and airway hyperresponsiveness.