Matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -9 promoter polymorphisms are not associated with an increased risk of uterine leiomyomas in a Japanese population.
OBJECTIVE
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in modeling and remodeling the extracellular matrix in leiomyomas. Hence, we investigated whether associations exist between leiomyomas and promoter polymorphisms in the MMP-1 and MMP-9 genes in a Japanese population.


METHODS
We compared the distribution of polymorphisms in the promoter regions of MMP-1 (-1607 1G/2G) and MMP-9 (-1562 C/T) in 267 leiomyoma patients and 184 control patients using polymerase chain reaction-fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis.


RESULTS
The allele frequencies of the MMP-1 -1607 2G and MMP-9 -1562 T polymorphisms were 74.6% and 18.6% in leiomyoma patients, and 71.3% and 18.6% in control patients, respectively. No significant differences in allele frequencies or genotype distributions were found between leiomyoma and control patients. Moreover, no associations were found between MMP-1 and MMP-9 genotypes and leiomyoma size or a family history of the condition.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that MMP-1 and MMP-9 promoter polymorphisms are unlikely to be associated with an increased risk of uterine leiomyomas in Japanese women.
Takemura
Naoya
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Yoshida
Shigeki
S
Kennedy
Stephen
S
Deguchi
Masashi
M
Ohara
Noriyuki
N
Maruo
Takeshi
T
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1