MMP1 and Hypertension: Renalase supplementation reduces hypertension, cardiomyocytes hypertrophy, and cardiac interstitial fibrosis, proteinuria, glomerular hypertrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. Renalase decreases the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, and IL-6), macrophage infiltration, activation and polarization, NADPH oxidase components (gp91phox, p47phox, and p67phox), the expression of collagen I, III, TIMP-1, and TGF-β1, and increases the expression of MMP-1. It also prevents cardiac remodeling through the inhibition of ERK 1/2 phosphorylation and suppresses pro-fibrotic gene expression.