title: Polymorphic analysis of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene and susceptibility to sporadic abdominal aortic aneurysm.
abstract: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has a multifactorial aetiology and the importance of genetic components is getting increasing interest. Alteration in the structure of the vascular extracellular matrix has been described in AAA. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade extracellular matrix proteins which alter the vessel wall stability. We evaluated two different polymorphisms, a CA repeat and a cytosine to thymidine transition in the promoter sequence of MMP-9 gene for frequency in 146 patients with AAA. We compared the results with those of 156 healthy subjects. No difference was found in the allelic distribution of either polymorphisms. We therefore found no evidence that MMP-9 is a marker of susceptibility for AAA.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac and Thoracic Department, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy. armani.chiara@libero.it
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Armani
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curcio
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Barsotti
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Santoni
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Stefano
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dell'omodarme
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brandi
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scatena
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carpi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balbarini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9