Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as MMP13 promote tumour growth and progression by mediating extracellular matrix (ECM) reorganization and regulating the biological activity of cytokines.Matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) plays a central role in the MMP activation cascade that enables degradation of the extracellular matrix and basement membranes, and it is identified as a potential driver in oral carcinogenesis.MMP13 is enriched in mature chondrocytes and considered a prime cause of ECM degradation in the osteoarthritic articular cartilage in temporomandibular joints. A missense mutation of MMP13 causes the Missouri type of human spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia (SEMD(MO)), an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by defective growth and modeling of vertebrae and long bones.