Matrix metalloproteinases-3 gene-promoter polymorphism as a risk factor in oral submucous fibrosis in an Indian population: a pilot study.

AIM: Host-related factors could be important to the fundamental understanding of oral diseases. One such factor is matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). MMP3 (stromelysin 1) is crucial in connective tissue remodeling. Promoter regions are specific segments of DNA that control the rate of mRNA synthesis. Thus, polymorphism in the (5A/6A) promoter region of the MMP3 gene results in different transcriptional activities and is related to susceptibility in diseases. The aim of the present study was to detect polymorphism in the MMP3 gene-promoter region in oral submucous fibrosis patients (OSF), oral squamous cell carcinoma patients (OSCC), and normal individuals with tobacco and areca nut habit and without lesions, and to correlate the genotype as a risk factor in these diseases.

METHOD: Genomic DNA from blood of OSF (n = 5), OSCC (n = 5), and normal individuals with tobacco and areca nut habit (n = 5) and without (n = 5) were subjected to polymerase chain reaction of the MMP3 gene-promoter region and DNA sequencing.

RESULTS: The 5A allele in the MMP3 gene-promoter region was observed more frequently in the OSF group than the control groups. No significant difference was noted between OSCC and the control groups on the 5A allele.

CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the 5A allele of the MMP3 gene-promoter region could be associated with OSF risk factor, but not OSCC, in an Indian population.