Recombinant human GALECTIN-3 protein (A13506; Abclonal) was incubated with activated recombinant MMP9 (RP00103; Abclonal) by adding 5 mM p-aminophenylmercuric acetate (A9563; Sigma-Aldrich) at 37°C for 30 min in 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer containing 150 mM NaCl and 10 mM CaCl2 (pH 7.5). The incubation was stopped by adding with a volume of 4× Laemmli sample buffer, and the sample was separated on a 12% SDS-PAGE and analyzed by Western blot analysis using either anti–galectin-3 polyclonal antibody (rabbit anti-mouse antibody; 14979-1-AP; Proteintech) or anti–galectin-3 monoclonal antibody (mouse anti-mouse antibody; ab2785; Abcam).