Among patients with SLE, serum MMP-3 was negatively correlated only with the BMD of the lumbar spine, but not of the femoral neck [128], while, among patients with osteoporosis secondary to ankylosing spodylitis, it was correlated positively with TRACP-5b and negatively with BALP and VDR [117]. The gene discussed is MMP3; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.