A functional polymorphism in MMP1 could influence osteomyelitis development

Osteomyelitis (OM) is a bone infection characterized by necrosis and new formation of bone. Because matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) play an important role in bone extracellular matrix remodeling, we investigated the role of some MMP polymorphisms in OM patients. A total of 118 OM patients and 300 blood donors were genotyped for the polymorphisms of MMP1 (−1607 1G/2G) and MMP13 (−77A/G). Levels of MMPs (−1, −2, −3, −8, ‐9, −10, and −13) and tissue inhibitors of metaloproteases (TIMP‐1, ‐2, and ‐4) in serum and in human osteoblasts obtained from OM biopsies also were determined. The MMP1 (–1607 2G/2G) genotype was significantly more frequent among OM patients compared with controls [65.3% versus 33.7%, χ2 = 26.85, odds ratio (OR) = 3.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.03–5.2, p