In the search for a biomarker for IBD, such as CD and ulcerative colitis (UC), MMP9 and MMP12 levels in stools were found to increase significantly in both UC and CD patients. A longitudinal cohort study of 50 patients with UC showed a strong correlation of diagnostic severity of IBD with fibrinogen, MMP8, short peptidoglycan recognition protein, and TIMP2, suggesting that fecal MMP8, MMP9, and MMP12 levels are useful biomarkers for the early detection of IBD. The gene discussed is MMP8; the disease is ulcerative colitis.