The selection of the molecules was based on our previous work, where we identified several molecules in IBD patients associated with anti-TNF-α therapy (OPG, CD14, endocrine-gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF)), disease activity (transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), trefoil factor 3 (TFF-3), MMP-9, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP), CD14, mannan-binding lectin (MBL), insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2), MMP-14) as well as with discrimination of IBD patients (MMP-9, MMP-14, MBL, TFF-3, EG-VEGF, TIMP-1, IGF-2) from healthy individuals [25]. Here, MMP14 is linked to inflammatory bowel disease.