MMP9 and arthritic joint disease: MMP-9 is a tissue remodelling protease, and increased activity is implicated in the progression of inflammatory disease (arthritis and diabetes), cardiovascular diseases (fibrosis, hypertension, and myocardial infarction), and cancer.71 In this regard, the activation of AP-1 and NF-κB constitute important factors regulating the transcription and translation of MMP-9.