Biomarkers of ECM remodeling, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) (Zhang et al., 2019; Li et al., 2017; Lattanzi et al., 2020), particularly MMP-2 (Mehta et al., 2013; Gareev et al., 2021) and MMP-9 (Zhang et al., 2019; Kassam et al., 2004), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) (Signorelli et al., 2018; Urbonavicius et al., 2008), have been implicated in aneurysm growth and rupture. The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is aneurysm.