MMP2 and atrial fibrillation: Using an original model of atrial endothelial cells, we recently demonstrated that thrombin, a key determinant of thrombogenicity during atrial fibrillation, promotes atrial endothelial cells senescence and the acquisition of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, characterized by enhanced expression levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, tissue factor, transforming growth factor (TGF-β), and metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9).