Session Speaker

Genetic Predisposition of Cardiovascular Disorders in Pakistani Population
Mansoor Q, Kazmi SAR Shah SFA Javaid A, Munawar S and Ismail M

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world and Pakistan is not an exception. Annually about 100,000 deaths are caused due to CVD and 12% of total morbidity is attributed to CVD in Pakistan. The prevalence of CVD is further increasing due to increased practice of urbanization and globalization that have brought about lifestyle changes which promotes CVD.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of endopeptidases with capacity to cleave components of extracellular matrix, such as collagen and elastin.1. The ability to modify the tissues is important for several aspects of normal and abnormal physiology. The activity of MMPs is normally low in healthy tissue, but the increased expression and activity of several MMPs in a range of pathological processes, such as inflammation and ventricular remodelling after myocardial infarction, indicates that they play a role in the pathophysiology and progression of atherosclerotic diseases.

MMP2, MMP3 and MMP9 have been recently reported to be associated with various CVDs. In the present study we are determining the association of these three MMPs with CVDs in Pakistan.

Material and Methods: For this study 5ml venous blood sample of CVD patients and age and sex matched control individual are collected with informed consent from primary health care hospital. Blood sample of families suffering from CVD have also been collected.

DNA has been isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes of collected blood samples.

Genetic screening to assess the polymorphic allele frequencies of three MMP genes in CVD patients and control was done.

Results: MMP genes were analyzed in the patients and controls. The clinical and genetic data were statistically evaluated. The result showed genetic heterogeneity in Pakistani population. These results will not only help in understanding the role of MMP genes in myocardial remodeling processes, but it will also help in early diagnosis, prognosis and eventually therapy of CVD.