Polymorphisms in matrix metalloproteinase-1, -9 and -12 genes and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a Korean population

Background: Although a few studies have been conducted to evaluate the association of polymorphisms in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the results have been inconsistent.

Objectives: To investigate the association of 3 polymorphisms of MMP genes (MMP-1 -1607G-->GG, MMP-9 -1562C-->T and MMP-12 N357S), which have been reported to be associated with COPD-related phenotypes, with the risk of COPD in a Korean population.

Methods: The genotypes of the 3 polymorphisms were determined in 301 patients with COPD and 333 healthy controls.

Results: Of the 3 polymorphisms studied, only the distribution of the MMP-9 -1562C-->T genotypes was significantly different between the cases and controls (p = 0.01), with the frequency of the variant T allele being significantly lower in the cases than in the controls (10.4 vs. 15.7%; p = 0.006). Individuals with at least 1 variant T allele were at a significantly decreased risk of COPD when compared with those with homozygous wild-type alleles (adjusted odds ratio = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.45-0.98; p = 0.04).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that the MMP-9 -1562C-->T polymorphism could be used as a marker for determining the genetic susceptibility to COPD in a Korean population.