Functional polymorphism of the MMP-1 promoter (-1607 1G/2G) in potentially malignant and malignant head and neck lesions in an Indian population

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are a family of zinc-dependent proteases that degrade the entire component of the extracellular matrix. Our study explores the association of the MMP1 gene promoter (-1607 1G/2G) polymorphisms in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in an Indian population. The MMP1single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 412 patients with OSMF, 422 with HNSCC and 426 controls. Our results showed that the frequency of 1G/2G or 2G/2G promoter genotypes having the 2G allele is associated with higher enzymatic activity and significantly increases in OSMF (p<0.001) and HNSCC cases (p<0.00). In this study, results concluded that SNPs in the MMP1 promoter region may be associated with susceptibility to OSMF as well as HNSCC in an Indian population and addiction habits such as areca nut chewing and alcohol abuse may enhance the expression of the 2G allele of MMP1 genes in OSMF and HNSCC cases.

Keywords::

• Oral cancer
• genetic polymorphisms
• tobacco science

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to an enthusiastic group of SRN hospital and MLN Medical College stafffor their persistent efforts, without which this research work would not have been possible.

Declaration of interest

The authors thank the University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi, for providing financial support (grant no.32-188/2006-SR) to A.K.C. for this study. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.