Finally, it should not be surprising that urinary proteins associated with ECM turnover (namely, MMP-2, TIMP-3, ECM1, TSP4, and MIA) emerged as the strongest readouts of concurrent tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis (i.e., high CI) in LN, given the direct role of these molecules in renal fibrosis. This evidence concerns the gene MMP2 and renal fibrosis.