MMP9 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Individuals with T2DM in combination with arterial hypertension exhibit maximum TIMP-1 levels and TIMP-1:MMP-2 and TIMP-1:MMP-9 ratios, as well as enhanced secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-16 (IL-6), and IL-17 [96].