Matrix metalloproteinases-9 (mmp-9) gene polymorphisms in patients with or without family history of myocardial infarction

Objectives: The present study aims to evaluate the role of Matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) gene polymorphism and serum MMP-9 levels, if any, in patients with or without family history of myocardial infarction (MI).
Materials and Methods: The levels of serum MMP-9, MMP-9 genotypes were evaluated by Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism and ELISA method, respectively. Study subjects (N=125) were divided in two groups; Group I: Patients with family history (F/H) of MI (N=52) and Group II: Patients who did not had any family history (without F/H) of MI (N= 73).
Results: There was no significant difference found in the genotypes (CC Vs CT+TT; p=0.40) and alleles (p=0.28) for MMP-9 C-1562T polymorphism between patients with F/H group and in patients without F/H group. Similarly, we have not observed any significant difference in the genotypes (AA Vs AG+GG; p=0.16) and alleles (p=0.18) for MMP-9 R279Q polymorphism between both the study groups. There were no statistically significant results found for the intergenotypic association of MMP-9 C-1562T and MMP-9 R279Q polymorphisms with MMP-9 levels in patients with F/H group and in patients without F/H group, respectively. Serum MMP-9 levels were non-significantly (p=0.053) higher in patients with F/H group (54.4±17.4) as compared to patients without F/H group (52.2±17.9).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that MMP-9 (C-1562T and R279Q) gene polymorphisms and serum MMP-9 levels may not contribute to the development of myocardial infarction in patients having no family history as compared to patients with family history.