Polymorphisms of the matrix metalloproteinase-3 gene and the risk of musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries

Introduction: Several genes variants have been found to be associated with musculoskeletal soft-tissue injuries, including Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and anterior cruciate ligament ruptures (ACL). Stromolysin-1(MMP3), a member of the zinc-dependent endopeptidase family, is known to be a physiological mediator of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling, through its role in promoting the degradation of ECM components. The MMP3 gene has been previously implicated in both AT and ACL ruptures. Therefore the aim was to further investigate the contribution of the MMP3 gene to musculoskeletal soft tissue injury risk.