“…In I/R injury, expression of MMP-2 is of particular interest because MMP-2 degrades extracellular matrix substrates including Type IV collagen, laminin, elastin, interstitial fibrillar collagen, and sarcomeric proteins [ 35 , 36 ]. The expression of this zinc-dependent protease is regulated by mechanical signals, inflammatory factors, hormones, and NPs, among other factors; some authors even suggest that MMP-2 can be used as a possible pharmacological target in the treatment of heart failure [ 31 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Therefore, we analyzed the expression of MMP-2 in all experimental groups and found that the expression of this enzyme was higher in hearts from MetS rats in sham-operated conditions and under I/R damage without there being changes in the Ct group.…”