Association of MMP-2 Variant with Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Patients: A Comparative Analysis Involving GJA1 and IL-6R Variants.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia caused by genetic modifications affecting biological processes such as cell communication, inflammation, and ion channels. Changes that occur over time happen gradually. By understanding the functional significance of these variations, we have analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), connexin 43 (GJA1/CX43), and interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R) in patients aged 65 or older who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. This analysis is grounded in the biological processes that are related to AF.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 301 individuals, consisting of 151 patients (77 males and 74 females) and 150 control subjects (93 males and 57 females), aged between 65 and 80. We employed a TaqMan assay, a PCR-based genotyping technique, to examine samples for the presence of three specific SNPs: rs243865 in the MMP-2 gene, rs13216675 in the GJA1/CX43 gene, and rs4845625 in the IL-6R gene.

Results: Upon comparing the patient group to the control group, a notable contrast was found in MMP-2 variations between the reference allele (C) and alternate allele (T) (p=0.0053). Individuals with the TT homozygous genotype exhibited a higher odds ratio (4.57, p=0.02).

Conclusion: A significant association has been observed between rs243865 in the MMP-2 gene, highlighting its crucial role in the pathways related to the association and development of AF. However, no significant difference was found between the control group and patients regarding the GJA1 and IL-6R genetic variations.