Influence of plasma matrix metalloproteinase-7 levels and genetic polymorphism of -181A/G on the stability of carotid plaque / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the influence of plasma matrix metalloproteinase-7 ( MMP-7 ) levels and genetic polymorphism of MMP-7 - 181 A/G on the stability of carotid plaque.Method According to carotid ultrasound examination, 503 patients with carotid atherosclerotic lesions were consecutively recruited and divided into vulnerable plaque group (n = 118) and stable plaque group (n = 385).Plasma MMP-7 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and MMP-7 -181 A/G genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restiction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).Results Plasma MMP-7 levels in carotid vulnerable plaque group were significantly enhanced as compared to stable plaque group (t =5.49, P =0.00).The frequency of MMP-7 -181G allele in vulnerable plaque group was significantly higher than that in stable plaque group (11.4% vs 7.0% ,χ2 = 4.78, P= 0.029).Compared to AA genotype, the genotypes with - 181G allele (AG + GG) significantly increased susceptibility to carotid vulnerable plaque ( χ2 = 5.01, OR = 1.81, P = 0.025 ) .When further analyzing the relationship between genotype and plasma MMP-7 levels, no significant differences of plasma MMP-7 levels were observed between AA genotype and AG + GG genotype in stable plaque group.However, in vulnerable plaque group, plasma MMP-7 levels of AG + GG genotype were significantly higher than that of AA genotype( t = 2.62, P = 0.01).Conclusion The present findings suggest that plasma MMP-7 level may be a biomarker for carotid vulnerable plaque.Genetic polymorphism of - 181 A/G in MMP-7 promoter may affect the expression of MMP-7, and seems to be implicated in susceptibility to carotid vulnerable plaque.