MMP3 and periodontitis: Numerous studies have shown that elevated MMP levels, particularly MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13, contribute to collagen breakdown, bone resorption, and the intensification of inflammatory responses in periodontitis, consistent with their well-documented role in degrading key structural components like Type I, III, IV, and IX collagen, fibronectin, laminin, and proteoglycans [45,46,47].