To determine if human islets are also capable of remodeling the ECM in T1D, MMP-3 and COL IV were stained in human pancreas sections from healthy, two or more autoantibody-positive (Aab+), and recent onset (<6 months) T1D donors to determine whether similar trends in MMP-3 expression and COL IV degradation are conserved across species. This evidence concerns the gene MMP3 and type 1 diabetes mellitus.