Assessment of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Polymorphism in Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background Matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) plays a pivotal role in vascular remodelling and development of atherosclerotic lesion. The potentially functional MMP-9 polymorphisms may contribute to the susceptibility of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Objectives Our aim was to examine whether MMP9-1562C/T polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Egyptian population. Methods This case-control study was composed of 80 ACS patients and 40 control subjects. The ACS group included 40 patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and 40 patients with Unstable Angina Pectoris (UAP). The genotypes of MMP-9 -1562 C/T polymorphism was determined by the method of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP-PCR). The relationship between the polymorphism of the MMP-9 gene and Acute Coronary Syndrome was analysed. Results The genotype frequencies for CT+TT genotypes and the 1562T allele were significantly higher in the ACS group than in the control group (25 % vs.0.0 % and 20.4 % vs.0.0 %, P=0.001and P=0.004, respectively). The T allele carriers had an approximately 1.51 -fold higher risk of developing ACS than those with the CC homozygote (OR=1.51, 95 % CI, 1.331.72). While there was no statistically significant difference between patients with acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris regarding genotypes and allele frequencies (P greater than 0.05). Conclusion MMP-9-1562Cgreater thanT polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility to ACS in the Egyptian population. But there was no significant difference between the AMI and UAP subgroups.