Association of MMP-1 (rs1799750)-1607 2G/2G and MMP-3 (rs3025058)-1612 6A/6A Genotypes With Coronary Artery Disease Risk Among Iranian Turks:

An updated patent review of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors (2021-present)

INTRODUCTION

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are strongly interlinked with the progression and mechanisms of several life-threatening diseases including cancer. Thus, novel MMP inhibitors (MMPIs) as promising drug candidates can be effective in combating these diseases. However, no MMPIs are marketed to date due to poor pharmacokinetics and lower selectivity. Therefore, this review was performed to study the newer MMPIs patented after the COVID-19 period for an updated perspective on MMPIs.

AREAS COVERED

This review highlights patents related to MMPIs, and their therapeutic implications published between January 2021 and August 2023 available in the Google Patents, Patentscope, and Espacenet databases.

EXPERT OPINION

Despite various MMP-related patents disclosed up to 2020, newer patent applications in the post-COVID-19 period decreased a lot. Besides major MMPs, other isoforms (i.e. MMP-3 and MMP-7) have gained attention recently for drug development. This may open up newer dimensions targeting these MMPs for therapeutic advancements. The isoform selectivity and bioavailability are major concerns for effective MMPI development. Thus, adopting theoretical approaches and experimental methodologies can unveil the development of novel MMPIs with improved pharmacokinetic profiles. Nevertheless, the involvement of MMPs in cancer, and the mechanisms of such MMPs in other diseases should be extensively studied for novel MMPI development.

Association of Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) Gene Polymorphisms With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Review of the Literature

Progressive matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-induced degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the articular cartilage is one of the major pathogenic osteoarthritis (OA) events. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding MMPs have been identified as affecting MMP expression, production, and enzymatic activity. This study systematically reviews the literature regarding the association between the SNPs of genes encoding MMPs and the risk of knee OA. An electronic search in the PubMed and Web of Science databases from conception to January 2021 was performed addressing studies relating MMPs genetic polymorphisms with the risk of knee OA. We included case-control studies that used validated genotyping methods to detect the SNPs’ association in MMP genes with primary knee OA risk. Ten studies were finally included in this systematic review, evaluating different SNPs in six MMP genes in terms of knee OA pathogenesis: MMP-1 (3 SNPs), MMP-2 (1 SNP), MMP-3 (9 SNPs), MMP-8 (10 SNPs), MMP-9 (6 SNPs), and MMP-13 (1 SNP). Among them, nine SNPs of four MMP genes have been associated with knee OA: (a) MMP-1 -1607 1G/2G (Turkish, Chinese), (b) MMP-3 rs650108, rs650108, rs520540, rs602128, rs679620 (Chinese), (c) MMP-8 rs1940475 and rs376520 (Finnish), and (d) MMP-13 77A/ (rs2252070) (Chinese). The present review summarizes all known SNPs of MMP genes related to a higher risk of knee OA. There are at least nine SNPs in four MMP genes associated with knee OA. No solid correlation between MMP genotype and knee OA phenotype exists. More high-quality studies and modern genetic testing methods are needed to fully elucidate the role of polymorphisms of MMP genes in knee OA pathogenesis.

The 1G/1G+1G/2G Genotypes of MMP1 rs1799750 Are Associated with Higher Levels of MMP-1 and Are Both Associated with Lipodystrophy in People Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy

In HIV-infected patients, antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated to adipose tissue redistribution known as lipodystrophy (LD). This study aimed at verifying the association between the polymorphism of the MMP1 gene (rs1799750) (1G/2G) and the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) with LD and its subtypes in people living with HIV on ART. This is a cross-secional study. LD was self-reported. The determination of the MMP1 rs1799750 gene polymorphism was performed by real-time PCR, and the serum concentrations of MMP-1 were quantified by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Of 404 participants, 204 (51%) were diagnosed with LD, of whom 89 (43%) had mixed lipodystrophy (ML), 72 (35%) had lipohypertrophy (LH), and 43 (22%) had lipoatrophy (LA). There was an association between the genotypes 1G/1G+1G/2G and higher serum levels of MMP-1 (p = .025). There was no association of MMP1 (1G/2G) with LD. Other factors associated with LD were current CD4 ≤ 350 [odds ratio (OR) = 4.85, confidence interval (CI) = 1.78-47.99, p = .0033] and serum MMP-1 levels >6.81 (OR = 2.67, CI = 1.21-6.08, p = .0165). Factors associated with ML: current CD4 ≤ 350 (OR = 5.59, CI = 1.69-20.39, p = .006); with LH: number of antiretroviral regimens used: 2 (OR = 2.06, CI = 1.01-4.20, p = .0460) and 3+ (OR = 2.09, CI = 1.00-4.35, p = .0477), and current CD4 ≤ 350 (OR = 2.08, CI = 1.00-4.24, p = .0461); and with LA: current viral load >40 (OR = 2.52, CI = 1.03-5.91, p = .0372) and current use of zidovudine (OR = 2.97, CI = 1.32-6.54, p = .0074). Higher levels of MMP-1 were associated with genotypes 1G/2G+1G/1G and with LD. Other individual risk factors were independently associated with LD, and its subtypes, suggesting that the pathogenesis itself is differently manifested for each type of LD.

Interleukin-17 is Not Associated with Risk of Premature Coronary Artery Disease in Iranian Turks

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most important causes of death globally. Results of recent studies have indicated that cytokine dysregulation was associated with premature coronary artery disease (P-CAD). The majority of cytokine gene polymorphisms influence the level of cytokine production and secretion. This study aimed to analyse IL-17 gene expression in patients with P-CAD and healty individuals in an Iranian population. This case-control study, conducted in Urmia University of Medical Sciences, compared patients with P-CAD hospitalised for risk of coronary artery stenosis, those admitted for medical cares and healthy normal controls. Thirty patients with P-CAD and 30 healthy individuals entered the study. The tested individulas were selected according to strict criteria such as clinical, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram and coronary angiography findings. Individuals with diabetes type 1 or 2 were excluded from the study. Reducing the diameter of at least one of the coronary arteries with more than 50% obstruction was selected as P-CAD. The qRT-PCR technique was used to determine the level of IL-17 gene expression in the studied groups. IL-17 gene expression was compared between the tested groups using t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test. Subjects' mean age (±SE) was 45(±5) and 44 (±4) among tested cases and related controls, respectively. The relative mRNA expression was 4.04±2.4 in patients with P-CAD and 2.75±1.3 in controls for IL-17. IL-17 gene expression was not significantly different in the tested groups (P> 0.05). IL-17 is not associated with risk of P-CAD in Iranian Turks.