Matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -3 gene polymorphisms in Periodontitis Patients

Objectives: Matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -3 (MMP-1, MMP-3) play a fundamental role during destruction of periodontal tissues. TNF-alpha affects the gene expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-3 and their high concentrations have been reported in periodontitis. In this study, individual frequencies of MMP-1 and MMP-3 promoter polymorphisms associated with the initiation and progression of gingival inflammation were researched in a Turkish population. Methods: The study included a total of 69 periodontitis patients (27 aggressive periodontitis and 42 chronic periodontitis) and 20 healthy control subjects. All subjects were evaluated clinically and radiographically. Genomic DNA was generated from peripheral blood and the individual promoter polymorphisms of MMP-1 and MMP-3 were genotyped employing PCR-RFLP methods. Results: MMP-1 2G allele which aggravates the disease has been determined to be 72.1 % in patients with chronic periodontitis, 76.9% in patients with aggressive periodontitis and 90% in healthy subjects. Besides, MMP-3 5A allele, a contributor for aggravation, has been determined to be 40.7% in chronic periodontitis, 38.5 % in aggressive periodontitis and 27.5 % in healthy subjects. Conclusion: The preliminary findings of the present study suggest that, 5A and 2G alleles which have augmentative effects on tissue destruction with the disease are suppressed by 1G and 6A alleles, and that these polymorphic regions have linkage combination. However, further studies should be carried out on the characterization of Turkey's population and constitute the connections by illuminating complex relations.