RESUMO
BACKGROUND: In recent years, with the further research of human genome scanning, the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) gene polymorphisms and many diseases has aroused increased attention. But there is little research on the relationship between MMP-9 gene polymorphisms and ischemic stroke (IS). This study was conducted to evaluate the relationships between the rs3918242 and rs17577 polymorphisms in the MMP-9 gene and IS in a Chinese population. METHODS: 152 cases of IS patients and 152 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. All subjects were genotyped for the MMP-9 rs3918242 and rs17577 polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coupled with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and restriction analysis. RESULTS: Rs3918242 showed genotypes TT, TC, and CC, and rs17577 exhibited genotypes AA, AG, and GG. The MMP-9 polymorphisms rs3918242 and rs17577 exhibited complete linkage. Our study found there was no significant difference in genotype and allele between rs3918242 and rs17577 between patients and controls. The MMP-9 gene rs3918242 and rs17577 polymorphisms are not significantly correlated with IS risk. Genetic polymorphisms vary among ethnic and regional populations. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that MMP-9 rs3918242 is completely linked to rs17577, while the rs3918242 and rs17577 polymorphisms are not significantly associated with the risk of IS. Genetic polymorphisms vary among ethnic and regional populations.