Association of functional SNP-1562C>T in MMP9 promoter with proliferative diabetic retinopathy in north Indian type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Objective: Retinal angiogenesis is a hallmark of diabetic retinopathy. Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Functional SNP-1562C>T in the promoter of the MMP-9 gene results increase in transcriptional activity.