<b>Methods:</b> MMP2 and MMP9 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in sections from renal biopsy specimens with class III, class IV and class V LN (total <i>n</i> = 31), crescentic immunoglobulin A nephropathy (<i>n</i> = 6), pauci-immune glomerulonephritis (<i>n</i> = 7), minimal change disease (<i>n</i> = 2), mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (<i>n</i> = 7), diabetic nephropathy (<i>n</i> = 12) and histologically normal controls (<i>n</i> = 8).