Journal of Human Hypertension (2007) 21, 861–867; doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1002244; published online 21 June 2007

Journal of Human Hypertension (2007) 21, 861–867; doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1002244; published online 21 June 2007
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 polymorphism contributes to blood pressure and arterial stiffness in essential hypertension

S Zhou1, J Feely1,2, J P Spiers1 and A Mahmud1,2
1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
2Hypertension Clinic, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

Correspondence: Dr A Mahmud, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James’s Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland. E-mail: mahmuda@tcd.ie

Received 19 January 2007; Revised 29 April 2007; Accepted 5 May 2007; Published online 21 June 2007.

Abstract

Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in a hypertensive population. Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 are associated with arterial stiffness and predict cardiovascular risk. We investigated the role of MMP-9 polymorphism -1562C>T on blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness in a newly diagnosed hypertensive population. Untreated hypertensive patients (n=215, mean age 4613 years) were studied. Supine BP, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index were assessed. Serum biochemistry and plasma MMP-9 concentrations were measured and genotyping performed following extraction of genomic DNA. BP, aortic PWV and serum MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in T-allele carriers of the -1562C>T polymorphism with a significant gene–dose effect (PT polymorphism emerged as an independent predictor of systolic BP (R2=0.25, P<0.0001), diastolic BP (R2=0.16, P<0.0001) and PWV (R2=0.47,P<0.0001). This is the first study to show the effect of MMP-9 polymorphism on BP and aortic stiffness in a hypertensive population. These results suggest that hypertensive patients carrying the T allele may be at increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Keywords: MMP-9 gene polymorphism, arterial stiffness, aortic pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, MMP-9 levels

Source : Journal of Human Hypertension
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