Transcriptional regulation of MMP and TIMPs is partially overlapping; MMP-2 and TIMP-2 share the same transcription factor, AP-2 (activator protein) (Li et al., 2000), which might explain the increased mRNA and protein expression of TIMP-2 and MMP-2 in myocardium samples from CCC and DCM patients. This evidence concerns the gene TIMP2 and familial dilated cardiomyopathy.