Association between matrix metalloproteinase gene polymorphisms and development of ischemic stroke.

We investigated the association between MMP2 rs243865, MMP3 rs3025058 and MMP9 rs3918242 polymorphisms and development of ischemic stroke in a Chinese population. Between January 2012 and May 2014, a total of 317 patients with ischemic stroke and 317 health control subjects were enrolled into our study. The MMP2 rs243865, MMP3 rs3025058 and MMP9 rs3918242 polymorphisms were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coupled with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that individuals carrying with the CC genotype and the TC+CC genotype of MMP9 rs3918242 were associated with a significantly increased risk of ischemic stroke when compared with the TT genotype, and the ORs (95% CI) was 5.47 (2.64-12.38) and 1.55 (1.08-2.24), respectively. The TC+CC genotype of MMP9 rs3918242 was associated with an elevated risk of ischemic stroke in tobacco smokers, and the OR (95% CI) was 2.03 (1.11-3.74). In conclusion, our study suggests that MMP9 rs3918242 polymorphism is correlated with an elevated risk of ischemic stroke, and this gene polymorphism has interaction with tobacco smoking in the risk of ischemic stroke.