Relationship between rs3918242 Polymorphism of Matrix Methaloproteinase-9 Gene and Preeclampsia in Pregnant Women

Background: Preeclampsia is a complex disorder of pregnancy with an unknown etiology. Numerous studies have shown the possible role of gene polymorphisms, especially metalloproteinases, in development of this disease, but there are no definitive results. Objective: This study aims to investigate the possible association between rs3918242 (−1562C>T) polymorphism in Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) gene with the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were 90 pregnant women with preeclampsia and 199 healthy pregnant women (controls). The genotypes of rs3918242 polymorphism were investigated using Polymerase Chain Reaction technique and Limited Fragment Length Polymorphism method. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between rs3918242 polymorphism and preeclampsia.  Findings: The frequency of CC, CT, TT genotypes of rs3918242 polymorphism was reported 47.8%, 47.8% and 4.2% in patients and 84.8, 13.1 and 2% in controls, respectively, and the difference between groups was significant (P<0.001). The frequency of TT genotype in patients was significantly higher than in controls (P<0.001). Moreover, the frequency of T allele in patients was 52.2%, while in controls it was 15.2% and the difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: The rs3918242 polymorphism of MMP9 gene plays an important role in the incidence of preeclampsia in pregnant women.