Polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase genes (MMP1 and MMP3) in patients with varicose veins.
BACKGROUND
Several risk factors for varicose veins have been identified: female gender, combined with obesity and pregnancy, occupations requiring standing for long periods, sedentary lifestyle, history of deep-vein thrombosis and family history. However, no specific gene variants related to a wide prevalence of varicosities in general population have been identified. Extracellular matrix composition, predominantly maintained by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), may affect the vein-wall structure, which may lead to dilation of vessels and cause varicosities.


OBJECTIVE
MMP-1 (tissue collagenase I) and MMP-3 (stromelysin I) expression was found to be raised in varicose veins compared with normal vessels. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate a potential association between MMP1 and MMP3 promoter polymorphisms and a risk of varicose veins.


METHODS
Genotyping for the presence of the polymorphisms -1607dupG (rs1799750) in MMP1 and -1171dupA (rs3025058) in the MMP3 promoter region was performed using PCR and restriction-fragment length polymorphism assays in a group of 109 patients diagnosed with varicose veins and 112 healthy controls.


RESULTS
The frequencies of the MMP1 and MMP3 alleles (minor allele frequency 0.440 in patients vs. 0.451 in the controls for MMP1-1607*G and 0.514 vs. 0.469 for MMP3-1171*dupA, respectively) and of genotypes did not differ significantly between patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The MMP1-1607dupG and MMP3-1171dupA promoter polymorphisms are not valuable markers of susceptibility for varicose veins.
Kurzawski
M
M
Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland. mkurz@op.pl
Modrzejewski
A
A
Pawlik
A
A
Droździk
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1