Background
Stroke is a serious cardiovascular disease and is also the leading cause of long-term disability in developing and developed countries. Because matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is associated with the risk of many cardiovascular diseases, we investigated the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MMP-9 and the risk of Ischemic stroke (IS) in a southern Chinese Han population.
Conclusions
Our study showed that the rs3787268 locus in the MMP-9 gene may increase risk of IS in a southern Chinese Han population and thus provide insight into the IS pathogenesis.
Methods
This study included 250 stroke patients and 250 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed using the Agena MassARRAY system, and chi-squared tests and genetic models were used to evaluate the associations between MMP-9 SNPs and the risk of IS. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by unconditional logistic regression adjusted for age.
Results
Polymorphism rs3787268 was associated with increased the risk of IS. Specifically, the genotype "G/A" significantly correlated with IS risk in the co-dominant model [odds ratio (OR) = 1.62; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10-2.41; p = 0.035)], while genotypes "G/A" and "A/A" may increase the risk of IS based on the dominant model (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.12-2.35; p = 0.0097). This SNP was also significantly associated with IS risk in the log-additive model (OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.03-1.70; p = 0.026). Conversely, haplotype "C/G" appears to reduce the risk of IS (OR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.54-0.95; p = 0.019). Conclusions: Our study showed that the rs3787268 locus in the MMP-9 gene may increase risk of IS in a southern Chinese Han population and thus provide insight into the IS pathogenesis.