Positive association of MMP 14 gene polymorphism with vulnerable carotid plaque formation in a Han Chinese population

Abstract

Background. MMP 14 is expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and potentially plays an important role in the development of vulnerable carotid plaques. MMP 14 gene polymorphisms can influence the bioactivity or expression of MMP 14. Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MMP 14 position + 7096 T > C (NM_004995.2:c.855T> C, rs2236307) polymorphism and vulnerable carotid plaque formation. Methods. 1370 patients with ischemic cerebral infarctions were enrolled and divided into three groups according to their carotid ultrasound examination: No plaque group (n = 346), stable plaque group (n = 695) and vulnerable plaque group (n = 329). The traditional atherosclerosis risk factors were recorded, and the MMP 14 polymorphism were genotyped by Applied Biosystems 7300 Real-Time PCR System using the TaqMan assay. Results. In the multiple logistic regression analysis done among the sub-groups, compared to no carotid plaque group, individuals with the MMP 14 position + 7096 TC+ CC genotype showed a significantly (p = 0.009) lower risk for vulnerable plaque (AOR = 0.675; 95% CI, 0.568–0.922) formation compared with subjects of the TT genotype; however, no relation between TC+ CC genotype and stable carotid plaque was observed (p > 0.125). Age was a risk factor for both stable plaque (p = 0.000; AOR = 3.732; 95% CI: 2.496–5.58) and vulnerable plaque formation (p = 0.001; AOR = 2.234; 95% CI: 1.387–3.597). Meanwhile, fibrinogen (> 4.0 g/L) was a risk factor for stable plaque (p = 0.004; AOR = 2.313; 95% CI: 1.308–4.091). Conclusions. The MMP 14 position + 7096 TC+ CC genotype might lower the risk of vulnerable carotid plaque formation. Fibrinogen (> 4.0 g/L) was a risk factor for stable plaque.

Key Words::

• Carotid artery plaque
• atherosclerosis
• genetic polymorphism
• matrix metalloproteinase 14
• vulnerable plaque

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. Research support played no role in the study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, in the writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the report for publication.

This work was supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Foundation (grant number 2011ZA111), the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (grant number Y13H293007) and Taizhou Municipal Science and Technology Foundation (grant number 111KY0603).