title: Polymorphisms in MMP-9 and TIMP-2 in Chinese patients with varicose veins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Varicose veins (VVs), a common vascular disease, are functionally characterized by dilation and tortuosity and are widely prevalent in the adult population. The pathophysiology and molecular mechanism of VVs are still unclear. A genetic risk for VVs has been demonstrated, although no genetic variant pertaining to VVs has been identified. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous tissue inhibitors (TIMPs), which can prevent excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, greatly impact vascular remodeling and may play a vital role in patients with VVs. We evaluated a potential association between polymorphisms in the promoters of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 and the risk for VVs in the Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genotyping of the promoter region polymorphisms -1562C/T in MMP-9 and -418G/C in TIMP-2 was performed with PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assays with a group of 60 patients with VVs and 60 healthy controls. Purified PCR products were sequenced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation was found between patients with VVs and controls at -1562C/T in MMP-9. The TIMP-2 gene polymorphism -418G/C was also associated with VVs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that polymorphisms in the promoter region of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 are associated with VVs in the Chinese population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hong-mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiang-man
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Wei-guo
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9