THE ROLE OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-1 AND ENDOTHELIAL NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN DEVELOPMENT OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Abstract

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The main pathophysiological processes involved in the development of CAD include impaired lipid metabolism, coagulation and chronic inflammation of the coronary vessel wall. There are many well-known traditional or conventional risk factors that may contribute to development of CAD like smoking cigarettes, lack of physical activity, diabetes, obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia (hypercholesterolemia), psychosocial stress etc. Nevertheless, over the last two decades there has been a significant progress in the field of genetic research and enlightening of the genetic basis of development of CAD. Certain genetic polymorphisms have been found to be linked not only to lipid metabolism and coagulation but also to inflammation and response, tissue maintenance, remodeling and degradation of the extracellular matrix. In this review article we discuss some of the most frequently studied gene polymorphisms in the development of CAD – matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms.