Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), their TIMP inhibitor, adhesion molecules, sirtuins, and apoptosis markers are among the signaling molecules that may have an important prognostic value in dilated cardiomyopathy. The aim of the study: To study the expression of MMP proteins during myocardial aging in normal conditions and in dilated cardiomyopathy. Materials and methods: The work was performed on autopsy material of the myocardium of people of different ages with dilated cardiopathy and without cardiovascular pathology. The material was taken under sterile conditions of the operating unit. Immediately after taking a sample of tissue, it was placed in a sterile container with saline. The control was the culture of normal human cardiomyocytes (line Girardi Heart, obtained from the cell culture collection of the Institute of Cytology RAS (St. Petersburg). For immunocytochemical studies of cultures and immunohistochemical analysis of autopsy material, the following primary monoclonal antibodies were used: MMP-2 (Dako, USA) and MMP-9 (Dako, USA). The morphometric study of the structures obtained was performed using a computer-aided microscopic image analysis system. Results: It was established that the area changes expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 was not normally observed in the myocardial autopsy material. In DC, the area of MMP-2 expression increased 5.7 times in middle-aged people, 6 times in elderly people and 6.8-fold in elderly patients compared with the corresponding indicator in normal conditions. The expression of MMP-9 in the myocardium in patients with DK of all age groups increased by 4.5 times compared with the corresponding age norm. In normal myocardial cultures with their aging, the expression of MMP-9 did not change significantly. Conclusion: Matrix metalloproteinases are the key markers characterizing the presence of dilated cardiomyopathy in people of different ages in the autopsy and cultural material.