title: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 coding sequence single-nucleotide polymorphisms in caucasians with intracranial aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are several lines of evidence suggesting that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP-9, are involved in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms. Some studies have demonstrated that genetic variants in the promoter region of the MMP-9 gene are associated with aneurysms. We performed a case-control study to investigate whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the coding region of the MMP-9 gene might affect the development of intracranial aneurysms.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 13 exons and the 3' untranslated region of the MMP-9 gene were analyzed by direct sequencing in a study group that comprised 40 Caucasian patients with at least one intracranial aneurysm and 44 Caucasian controls. Genotypes were determined, and those that were in Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium were analyzed in another sample of 40 cases and 40 controls. Differences among the genotype frequencies of the identified polymorphisms were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven SNPs were identified in the coding region, two were identified in the adjacent intronic sequences, and two were identified in the 3' untranslated region. Genotype frequencies of four SNPs were demonstrated to be in Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium in both analyzed study samples. Therefore, an accurate estimation of haplotype frequencies was not possible. No difference in genotype frequencies between cases and controls was detected at any of the 11 SNPs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SNPs of the coding region and the 3' untranslated region of the MMP-9 gene are not associated with intracranial aneurysms in Caucasians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, University of Technology, Dresden, Germany. krex@rcs.urz.tu-dresden.de
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krex
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotteck
authors.forename: Inke R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: Hans K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Schackert
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schackert
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9