title: Polymorphisms of MMP9 and TIMP2 in Patients with Varicose Veins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic predisposition is a suggested risk factor in the etiology of varicose veins. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family degrades extracellular matrix (ECM) and may lead to disturbances in vein wall structure. The activity of MMPs in the ECM are controlled by specific tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP). The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between MMP9 and TIMP2 gene polymorphisms and varicose vein risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genotyping of the polymorphisms of MMP9 (1562 C/T) and TIMP2 (418G/C) was performed using polymerase chain reaction and restriction-fragment length polymorphism assays in a group of patients with varicose veins (n=63) and healthy controls (n=70).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequencies of MMP9 alleles and genotypes did not differ significantly between patient and control groups. However, TIMP2 -418 C allele was associated with increased risk for varicose vein formation (p=0.007). It was also shown that the frequency of the GG genotype was significantly higher in the control group than in the patient group (odds ratio=0.333, 95% confidence interval=0.14-0.78, p=0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TIMP2 -418 C allele is associated with susceptibility for varicose vein formation and individuals with GG genotype may have a lower risk for varicose vein formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kocaeli Derince Education and Research Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Atike Tekeli
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kunt
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isbir
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Bilim University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Uzay
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gormus
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Istanbul University Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem Timirci
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Kahraman
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arsan
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seda Gulec
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey tisbir@superonline.com.
authors.forename: Turgay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isbir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; 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; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012307:Risk Factors; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: Varicose vein; gene polymorphism; matrix metalloproteinase-9; tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2; venous insufficiency