Genetic Polymorphisms of Matrix Metalloproteinases 1–3 and Their Inhibitor are Not Associated With Premature Labor

Abstract

Aim: Extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases [TIMPs]) are involved in the breakdown of fetal membranes before delivery. Our aim was to investigate the occurrence of any polymorphism on genes coding for MMPs 1-3 and TIMP 2 in preterm laboring patients as a potential source of this phenomenon. This question has not been studied before. Methodology & results: A prospective population study was performed in a Greek university hospital. Group A (control) included 66 women with no symptoms of premature labor. Group B (research) comprised 66 women, exhibiting signs of threatened preterm labor. No statistically significant difference in polymorphism, both in the distribution of genotype as well as allele frequencies, was detected between the two groups. This also applied to gestational age less or greater than 32 weeks. Conclusion: Gene polymorphisms of MMP 1–3 and TIMP 2 are not associated with premature rupture of membranes/contractions, as well as gestational age at preterm labor.

Lay abstract Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their blockers (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases [TIMPs]) are two types of substances involved in the breakdown of the envelope that protects the baby before delivery. Our aim was to investigate any variation in the genes of these substances in patients who go into labor before 37 weeks. The study was performed in the outpatient antenatal and fetomaternal clinics in a Greek University Hospital. The gene polymorphisms of MMP 1-3 and TIMP 2 are not associated with premature rupture of membranes or contractions, as well as gestational age at preterm labor. More studies are required to further investigate other possible polymorphisms.

Keywords::

• genetic polymorphism
• matrix metalloproteinases
• preterm labor

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.futurescience.com/doi/suppl/10.4155/fsoa-2018-0047

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

Authors’ roles

We have a total of nine authors for the authorship. All authors have been instrumental in the study and their contributions are as follows: K Lathouras was responsible for the original manuscript design and draft, and data collection. S Saso and M Tzafetas were responsible for drafting and revision for important intellectual content. K Kalinderi and S Fidani helped with data collection analysis and the process of genetic experiments. M Kyrgiou, V Zournatzi, C Fotopoulou and S Ghaem-Maghami helped with intellectual context of the manuscript. I Tzafetas is the guarantor for this paper and accepts full responsibility for the work and/or the conduct of the study. His involvement was critical to every phase of this work and he controlled the decision to publish.