MMP3 and rheumatoid arthritis: Current results revealed that serum chemerin protein and expression levels were significantly higher in RA patients compared to that of healthy individuals, and these levels were positively associated with disease activity parameters and with serum NF-κB, HIF-1α, MMP-3 and VEGF, whereas they were negatively associated with serum BAX levels in RA patients, in addition, 59.3% of RA patients exhibited up-regulation of chemerin, suggesting a potential implication of this adipokine in RA.