MMP-9 microsatellite polymorphism and susceptibility to carotid arteries atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to compare a microsatellite polymorphism (PM) of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in patients with carotid atherosclerosis and control population, and to assess the relationship between this PM and plaque structure.


RESULTS
One hundred fifty patients referring to vascular diagnostic centers for suspected carotid atherosclerosis (at ultrasound examination: 110 positive, 40 negative) and controls (n=110) have been genotyped for MMP-9 PM. After controlling for risk factors, allelic and genotype frequencies were significantly different among the groups, with significant prevalence of long microsatellites in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. Long microsatellites (settled as 22 to 27 repeats) were associated with carotid atherosclerosis (odds ratio [OR], 5.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9 to 9.2), compared with controls; an independent case control study on patients with coronary atherosclerosis confirmed such result. Binary logistic regression showed that hypertension, long microsatellites in MMP-9 PM and smoking habits were variables accounting for the difference between ultrasound-positive patients and controls. Long microsatellites were also associated to plaques with thin fibrous cap and echolucent core (OR, 13.1; 95% CI, 1.6 to 100). These alleles were slightly more represented in female patients (chi2 test=0.019; OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2 to 6) but not associated with other risk factors. Plasma MMP-9 levels were related neither to MMP-9 PM nor to plaque type, and were related to gender and extension of atherosclerosis in carotid arteries.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of repeats (> or =22 CA) in the microsatellite of MMP-9 promoter, but not MMP-9 plasma levels, is associated to carotid atherosclerosis and particularly to plaques with a thin fibrous cap.
Fiotti
Nicola
N
U.C.O. di Clinica Medica Generale e Terapia Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Morfologiche e Tecnologiche, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. fiotti@units.it
Altamura
Nicola
N
Fisicaro
Maurizio
M
Carraro
Nicola
N
Uxa
Laura
L
Grassi
Gabriele
G
Torelli
Lucio
L
Gobbato
Raffaella
R
Guarnieri
Gianfranco
G
Baxter
B Timothy
BT
Giansante
Carlo
C
D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014463:Ultrasonography
D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9