BackgroundBrain abscess develops in response to a parenchymal infection due to pyogenic bacteria. MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) play vital role in many infectious and central nervous system (CNS) diseases. The present study evaluated the association of specific alleles/ genotypes of MMP-1, -2, -3, and -9 with brain abscess.MethodsA total of 100 brain abscess patients and 100 healthy controls were included in the study. Predisposing factors were identified in 70 brain abscess patients. Out of 100 brain abscess samples, 66 were culture positive. MMP-1-1607 1G/2G, MMP-2- C-1306-T, MMP-3 -1171 5A/6A, and MMP-9 C-1562Tgenotypes were detected by PCR-RFLP. Levels of these MMPs were determined in patients’ sera by ELISA and correlated with different genotypes.ResultsThe genotypic distributions of MMP-1-1607 1G/2G, MMP-2- C-1306-T, MMP-3 -1171 5A/6A, and MMP-9 C-1562T were significantly different between patients and controls. Homozygous genotype of MMP-1, -3, and -9 (P < 0.001, P = 0.04, and P = 0.03, respectively) and heterozygous genotype of MMP-2 (P < 0.001) showed significant association with brain abscess. Individuals with mutant genotypes had elevated levels of these MMPs. Furthermore, heterozygous (5A/6A and C/T, respectively) genotypes of MMP-3 and -9 also showed significant association with brain abscess patients having predisposing factors. When comparison was made between culture positive and culture negative results, of MMP-1 2G/2G and MMP-9 T/T, C/T genotype showed significant association with culture positive patientsConclusionPolymorphism of MMP-1-1607 1G/2G, MMP-2- C-1306-T, MMP-3 -1171 5A/6A, and MMP-9 C-1562T polymorphisms lead to increased production of these molecules, which appear to be a risk for the development of brain abscess in North Indian population.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.