MMP9 and atherosclerosis: MMP-9 has been significantly correlated with atherosclerosis risk factors (dyslipidaemia and inflammatory markers) as well as with bone turnover markers in this study on osteoporosis rat model, as it has been previously demonstrated by our group while studying an atherosclerosis rat model [10], which supports our hypothesis that suggests MMP-9 as a key molecule that links these two pathologies.