[MMP-9 gene -1562C/T polymorphism in aortic dissection in Chinese hypertensive patients]

To investigate the association of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) gene -1562C/T polymorphism with the pathogenesis and site involved range of aortic dissection in Chinese population.

142 hypertensive patients with aortic dissection and 130 hypertensive patients without aortic dissection were enrolled. Genomic DNAs were extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes. MMP-9 gene -1562C/T polymorphism was determined with PCR-RFLP. MMP-9 gene -1562C/T genotype and allele frequency were compared between hypertensive patients with aortic dissection and without. In addition, associations of MMP-9 gene -1562C/T polymorphism with clinical aspects were analyzed in hypertensive patients with aortic dissection.

There was a significant difference in the T allele frequency of the C-1562T MMP-9 polymorphism between the two groups, with more T allele (17.6%) observed in hypertensive patients with aortic dissection as compared with these without (11.2%) (P = 0.033). The genotype distribution for the MMP-9 -1562C/T polymorphism in hypertensive patients with aortic dissection (-1562CC: 69.0%; -1562 CT: 26.8%; -1562TT: 4.2%) and those without (-1562CC: 79.2%; -1562CT: 19.2%; -1562TT: 1.6%; P = 0.118) showed no remarkable difference, but hypertensive patients with aortic dissection possessing T allele showed a higher odds ratio for involving ascending aorta (OR = 2.063, 95% CI = 0.998 - 4.264, P = 0.049) as compared with those without T allele.

The T variant of MMP-9 gene -1562C/T polymorphism was significantly associated with aortic dissection in hypertensive patients and may represent an important genetic component contributing to aortic dissection susceptibility. Furthermore, hypertensive patients with aortic dissection possessing MMP-9 gene -1562T allele are more prone to involvement of ascending aorta.