Relationship between matrix metalloproteinase 2-735C→T genetic polymorphism in promoter region and coronary atherosclerosis

AIM: To investigate the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase 2 ( MMP-2 )-735C→T polymorphism in the promoter region and coronary atherosclerosis (CAS) in Han population of China. METHODS: This study was conducted with a CAS group including 309 patients confirmed by angiography and 311 control healthy subjects. Genotype of -735C→T functional promoter polymorphism of the MMP-2 gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The relationship between the polymorphism in MMP-2 gene and CAS was analyzed. RESULTS: The frequency of CC genotype (86.1%) in CAS group was significantly higher than that in control group (79.7%), but the frequency of CT+TT genotype (13.9%) in CAS group was significantly lower than that in control group (20.3%). The statistical difference between CAS group and controls was significant(χ²=4.398,P<0.05). The frequency of -735C in CAS group (92.6%) was higher than that in control group (89.1%) and the frequency of -735T in CAS group (7.4%) was lower than that in control group (10.9%), with the statistical significant difference (χ²=4.521, P<0.05). The degree of stenosis in coronary artery did not significantly relate to the MMP-2 gene -735C→T polymorphism in the promoter region. CONCLUSION: The genetic polymorphism in MMP-2 promoter region (-735C→T) is associated with the susceptibility to CAS in Han population of China. CC genotype and C allele may be a genetic marker. The -735C→T polymorphism may be useful as a predictor of CAS.