Is MMP-7 Gene Polymorphism a Possible Risk Factor for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Turkish Patients

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to fixed narrowing of small airways and alveolar wall destruction (emphysema). This study was performed to test the association between MMP-7 (rs155668818) and MMP-12 (rs56184183) polymorphisms in the MMP-7 gene and COPD risk and its severity in the Turkish population. MMP-7 and MMP-12 polymorphisms were genotyped in 85 patients with COPD and 73 healthy control subjects using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. There were significant differences in the distribution of MMP-7 genotypes but not in the frequencies of these alleles between COPD patients and controls (p=0.009, p=0.102, respectively). The MMP-7 AA genotype was found to be associated with an increased risk of COPD (p=0.004; odds ratio: 2.576; confidence interval: 1.297-5.119). The lowest values of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC in patients with GG homozygosity were determined and these values were statistically significant compared to the control subjects (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001). When the present study groups were analyzed for MMP-12 polymorphism, it was found that all the subjects had wild-type genotype for this polymorphism. These findings have suggested that MMP-7 polymorphism might be associated with the risk and progression of COPD in the Turkish population.