Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 rs17576 Gene Polymorphism and Behcet's Disease: Is There an Association?

Background: Clinical studies have reported a significant association between matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), particularly (MMP-9), and inflammatory diseases including Behcet's disease (BD).Purpose: To study the relationship between MMP-9 rs17576 gene polymorphism and the development of BD, and its relation to disease activity among Egyptian patients.Methods: A total of 100 BD patients and 100 healthy control volunteers were genotyped for MMP-9 rs17576 polymorphism with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), followed by the confirmation of our results in random subgroups using direct DNA sequencing technique.Results: The frequency of the GG genotype and G allele was significantly higher in BD patients as compared to the normal controls (p = 0.011, OR 8.61; p = 0.03, OR 1.65, respectively). There was no significant association between the MMP-9 rs17576 polymorphism and the clinical outcomes of BD.Conclusion: our study suggests a significant association of the MMP-9 rs17576 A/G polymorphism with increased risk of BD development in Egyptian patients.