“…In our study, nicotine administration caused a change in fibroblast activity due to the change of collagene fiber synthesis and decreased MMP2 expression. Several MMPs have been identified in the inflamed gingival tissues: MMP-1, -2, -3, -8, -9, -13, produced by the keratinocytes, macrophages, polymorphonuclear leukocytes [2,3,6,26,27]. Their activity could be different depending on the severity of disease and the needs for extracellular matrix digestion.…”