Polymorphisms in matrix metalloproteinase-1,-3,-9, and-12 genes in relation to subarachnoid hemorrhage

Background and Purpose-Intracranial aneurysm, which underlies the vast majo rity of subarachnoid hemorrhage incidences, has a multifactorial etiology, and the importance of genetic factors is increasingly recognized. Developme nt and rupture of intracranial aneurysms involve degradation and remodeling of the vascular wall matrix in which the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role. The possible impact of MMP gene polymorphisms on su sceptibility to intracranial aneurysms is still controversial, with conflic ting data from different reported studies. Methods-In this study we analyzed 5 different functional promoter polymorph isms in the MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-12 genes in a sample of 92 patient s with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and 158 healthy control subjects, all from southern England. Results-No significant difference was detected between the patient and cont rol groups in genotype distribution of any of the polymorphisms studied. Conclusions-The data do not support the hypothesis that MMP gene variations influence the development of intracranial aneurysms in the population stud ied.