The MMP1 rs1799750 2G allele is associated with increased low back pain, sciatica, and disability after lumbar disk herniation

Objectives: Previous studies indicate that genetic variants in genes
encoding proteins like matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes
may affect degeneration of the intervertebral disk. One such genetic
variant is a single nucleotide polymorphism insertion in the promoter region of the MMP1 gene, that is, the MMP1 rs1799750 2G
allele, which increases the MMP1 expression in vitro. In this study,
we examined whether the MMP1 rs1799750 2G allele might be
associated with disk degeneration and clinical outcome after lumbar disk herniation.
Materials and Methods: A total of 260 patients with lumbar disk
herniation and sciatic pain were included in this study and genotyped for the MMP1 rs1799750 2G allele.
Results: The present data showed no differences in the frequency of
the MMP1 2G allele in patients recently diagnosed with disk herniation compared with pain-free controls. Moreover, in the
patients, the MMP1 2G allele was not directly related to the disk
degeneration. However, our data demonstrated that the MMP1 2G
allele was associated with both pain and disability, that is,
increased visual analog scale score, McGill Pain Questionnaire
score, and Oswestry Disability Index score. Clearly, the patients
homozygous for the 2G allele had more pain and reduced function
compared with those carrying the [...]