Influence of metalloproteinase-3 (-1171 5A>6A) polymorphism on periportal fibrosis in patients with schistosomiasis mansoni, Pernambuco, Brazil

In schistosomiasis mansoni (SM), periportal fibrosis (PPF) arises due to an inflammatory response exacerbated by parasite eggs in the intrahepatic portal space, culminating in the deposition of collagen and extracellular matrix proteins. This fibrosis results from a remodeling process of the extracellular matrix, in which metalloproteinases play a significant role. The study evaluated the association between MMP-3 polymorphism (-1171 5A>6A) (rs 3025058) and sociodemographic factors with PPF in individuals with SM. This is an analytical cross-sectional study involving 242 individuals infected with S. mansoni, of these 122 were diagnosed with hepatosplenic form (HS) and 119 hepatointestinal form (HI), all from the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Polymerase chain reaction with restriction enzyme digestion (Psyl) was used to determine the MMP-3 polymorphism (-1171 5A>6A). There was a significant association between the male gender and the HS form (OR = 1.7623 95% CI [1.0481–2.9631]; p-value = 0.0439) as well as individuals aged over 41, also had a greater chance of developing this clinical form of the disease (OR = 2.8299; 95% CI [1.5211–5.2650]; p-value = 0.0014), with greater emphasis on individuals over 61 years old (OR= 8.5541; 95% CI [3.6895–19.8326], p-value= 0.0000). There was no statistically significant association between the MMP-3 polymorphism (-1171 5A>6A) between the clinical groups (5A6A CI [0.7144–1.9879] p-value 0.5882 5A5A CI [0.0912–2.9231] p-value 0.7331 5A6A / 5A5A CI [0.6904–1.8937] p-value 0.6949). In conclusion, the results showed no association between the MMP-3 polymorphism (-1171 5A>6A) and the development of PPF. In addition, males, and age over 41 were predictive factors for the HS form of the disease in this Brazilian population.