Aim: To analyze the gene polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
Materials and methods: The influence of single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of the gene of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 at position -1306 and that of MMP-9 at position -1562 on the development of complications was studied in 181patients with atherosclerosis by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of amplification products.
Results: A significant genotype increase with enhanced MMP-9 gene transcriptional activity was found in the patients aged 55 years inclusively who had been diagnosed as having myocardial infarction as compared with an older age group and, on the contrary, a rise in the MMP-2 genotype with a high promoter activity in the older age group.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes plays a certain role in the development of acute coronary events.