Association of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Gene Promoter Polymorphism and the Associated Phenotype Variation with Myocardial Infarction

MatrixMetalloProteinases-2, are zinc dependent endopeptidases which degrade major components of the basal lamina around blood vessels. Myocardial Infarction is mainly due to atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. MMP-2 destabilizes the arterial wall and breaks atheromatous plaque leading to MI. The gene for human MMP-2 contains 27,862 base pair genomic DNA and is composed of 13 exons. Several common restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) have been reported in the MMP-2 gene locus. 100 diagnosed myocardial infarction patients were taken as cases. 100 Age, sex matched individuals taken as controls. Autoimmune, thyroid, neoplastic, hepatic and chronic infections were excluded. Plasma MMP-2 levels were determined by ELISA and Genotyping was done by PCRRFLP. Plasma MMP-2 level was increased in patients with myocardial infarction. Genotype frequency distribution between cases and controls were compared with a  2 test. MMP-2 activity was compared between controls and cases by Student t test, p value < 0.05 was considered significant.