Role of MMP-2 and its inhibitor TIMP-2 as biomarkers for susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus.

To investigate the possible association between (-1575 G/A, -1306 C/T) and its inhibitor (-418 G/C) functional polymorphisms with development of severity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. 150 SLE patients and matched healthy controls were recruited. Polymorphisms were detected by PCR-RFLP and serum levels by ELISA.