Association of MMP-9 polymorphisms with diabetic nephropathy risk: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Association of matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene variants with diabetic nephropathy risk

BACKGROUND

Diabetic nephropathy is a highly destructive microvascular complication of diabetes. Genetic predisposition is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, with multiple allelic polymorphisms associated with the development and progression of the disease, thereby increasing the overall risk. To date, no study is available that shows the association of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) gene polymorphisms with diabetic nephropathy risk. Thus, we investigated the potential genetic influence of MMP-2 promoter variants in the development of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODS

In total, 726 type 2 diabetic patients and 310 healthy controls were included in the study and genotyped for MMP-2, -1306C/T, -790T/G, -1575G/T and -735C/T by real-time PCR. The analysis of the outcomes was performed assuming three genetic models. The threshold for statistical significance was set at 0.05.

RESULTS

The results showed that the minor allele frequency of the -790T/G variant was significantly higher in patients with and without nephropathy compared to controls. Furthermore, the distribution analysis revealed a significant association of the -790T/G variant, in all genetic models, with increased risk of diabetic nephropathy that persisted after adjusting for key covariates. No significant associations between MMP-2, -1306C/T, -1575G/T, -735C/T and the risk of diabetic nephropathy were detected. Haplotype analysis identified two risk haplotypes GCGC and GTAC associated with diabetic nephropathy.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study is the first to demonstrate the allelic and genotypic association of the MMP-2-790T/G variant and two haplotypes with an increased risk of diabetic nephropathy in a Tunisian population with type 2 diabetes.

Circulating Biomarkers Reflecting Destabilization Mechanisms of Coronary Artery Plaques: Are We Looking for the Impossible?

Despite significant strides to mitigate the complications of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), this clinical entity still represents a major global health burden. It has so far been well-established that most of the plaques leading to ACS are not a result of gradual narrowing of the vessel lumen, but rather a result of sudden disruption of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. As most of the developed imaging modalities for vulnerable plaque detection are invasive, multiple biomarkers were proposed to identify their presence. Owing to the pivotal role of lipids and inflammation in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, most of the biomarkers originated from one of those processes, whereas recent advancements in molecular sciences shed light on the use of microRNAs. Yet, at present there are no clinically implemented biomarkers or any other method for that matter that could non-invasively, yet reliably, diagnose the vulnerable plaque. Hence, in this review we summarized the available knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of plaque instability, the current evidence on potential biomarkers associated with plaque destabilization and finally, we discussed if search for biomarkers could one day bring us to non-invasive, cost-effective, yet valid way of diagnosing the vulnerable, rupture-prone coronary artery plaques.

Association of matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to type 2 diabetes: A case control study

AIMS

Genetic variations mediating MMP-2 expression may result in individual differences in susceptibility to particular diseases. Our aim was to investigate the possible association of certain MMP-2 gene variants with the susceptibility of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a Tunisian population.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A retrospective case-control study involving 310 normoglycemic control subjects and 791 T2D patients was conducted. Genotyping of MMP-2 variants was performed by real time PCR.

RESULTS

Minor allele frequencies (MAF) of the rs243865 and the rs243866 MMP-2, were significantly different between T2D cases and controls. Setting homozygous wild-type genotype carrier as reference, a reduced risk of T2D was seen with the rs243865 and the rs243866 genotypes. Haploview analysis revealed limited linkage disequilibrium between the tested MMP-2 and variants, with most haplotypes (99.5%) captured by 7 MMP-2 haplotypes. Taking the GCCC haplotype as reference for MMP-2 (OR = 1.00), a reduced frequency of TTCC haplotypes (P = 0.04) and the GTCC haplotype (P = 3.5 · 10^-5) was noted in T2D which indicates a protective nature of these two haplotypes for T2D development.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate a consistent association of the rs243865 and rs243866 genotype with a protection for T2D.