Abstract: Objective To compare serum matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) levels in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and healthy controls,and to determine the correlation between MMP-2 and components and risk factors of MS.Methods An epidemiologic survey was undertaken in Longfeng and Sushe communities,Haizhu district,Guangzhou,between July 2009 and October 2009,and 75 patients with MS and 82 heahhy controls were screened.Serum MMP-2 levels were detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),and the correlation with each disease components and risk factors in patients with MS were analyzed.Results Patients with MS yielded considerably lower serum MMP-2 level than controls [ (216.6±51.6) μg/L vs (232.9±49.8) μg/L,P<0.05].In MS patients,serum MMP-2 level was negatively correlated with triglycerol(TG),body mass index (BMI),waist circumference(WC) and diastolic blood pressure ( DBP ) ( r=-0.217,-0.188,-0.191 and -0.199,respectively,all P<0.05 ),but was positively correlated with age (r=0.263,P<0.05).Conclusion Reduced serum MMP-2 level may be responsible for the pathologenesis of extracellular matrix condensation in the cardiovascular system in patients with MS.