Concomitant increases in macrophage (CD68, F4/80, EP29, EPR1) and inflammasome markers (Caspase-1, IL-1β and NLPR-3) were observed together with a remarkably augmented level of MMP3, MMP9, Collagen I and TGF-β, thus suggesting that inflammation and matrix remodeling correlate with endothelial dysfunction. The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is endothelial dysfunction.