Polymorphisms of the matrix metalloproteinase genes are associated with essential hypertension in a Caucasian population of Central Russia

This study aimed to determine possible association of eight polymorphisms of seven MMP genes with essential hypertension (EH) in a Caucasian population of Central Russia. Eight SNPs of the MMP1 , MMP2 , MMP3 , MMP7 , MMP8 , MMP9 , and MMP12 genes and their gene–gene (epistatic) interactions were analyzed for association with EH in a cohort of 939 patients and 466 controls using logistic regression and assuming additive, recessive, and dominant genetic models. The functional significance of the polymorphisms associated with EH and 114 variants linked to them (r 2 ≥ 0.8) was analyzed in silico. Allele G of rs11568818 MMP7 was associated with EH according to all three genetic models (OR = 0.58–0.70, p perm = 0.01–0.03). The above eight SNPs were associated with the disorder within 12 most significant epistatic models (OR = 1.49–1.93, p perm