MMP2 and Nephropathy: MMP-2 plays a central role in the development of histopathological alterations by degrading ECM, leading to the release and activation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), which induces fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), promoting excessive ECM accumulation and progression of kidney damage [24].