Other fibrogenic factors that have been suggested as central to the development of renal fibrosis under hypoxic conditions include transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1,7, 15 the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP‐2, ‐7, and ‐9, and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs).16, 17. Here, MMP2 is linked to renal fibrosis.