Functional polymorphisms in the matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene in relation to severity of chronic periodontitis.
BACKGROUND
Members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family are implicated in the chronic remodeling in periodontal diseases. Therefore, we performed a case-control study to investigate a plausible association between susceptibility to chronic periodontitis (CP) and the polymorphisms in the MMP-9 (gelatinase B) gene.


METHODS
Using polymerase chain reaction with subsequent restriction analyses, MMP-9 -1562C/T and R+279Q variants were determined in 304 subjects (169 patients with CP, 76 with a mild to moderate form and 93 with severe generalized CP, and 135 age- and gender-matched unrelated control subjects).


RESULTS
The distribution of the MMP-9 -1562C/T and R+279Q genotypes and alleles did not significantly differ between cases and controls. However, the frequency of the T variant at position -1562 was marginally higher in patients with severe disease compared to those with mild to moderate forms (P <0.05; P(corr) >0.05). In further analysis, the -1562T allele was associated with a severe form of CP in men (odds ratio: 3.87; 95% confidence interval: 1.40 to 10.65; P <0.01 and P(corr) <0.05 for allele; P <0.05 and P(corr) >0.05 for genotype) but not in women.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that genetic polymorphisms of the MMP-9 gene are not associated with the susceptibility to CP in the Czech population; however, the promoter variant may influence the severity of the disease in men.
Holla
Lydie Izakovicova
LI
Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. holla@med.muni.cz
Fassmann
Antonin
A
Muzík
Jan
J
Vanek
Jiri
J
Vasku
Anna
A
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003596:Cytosine; D018153:Czech Republic; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013941:Thymine
D003596:Cytosine; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D013941:Thymine