MMP2 and periodontitis: Recent studies have established a connection between MMP-2 and periodontitis, since its activity is controlled by tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) (Bătăiosu et al., 2015), mainly TIMP-1, a natural inhibitor of MMP-2 produced by periodontal cells, macrophages and monocytes (Figure 1) (da Costa Fernandes and Zambuzzi, 2020).