The relationship between MMP-9 promoterpolymorphism and IVF outcome.

Angiogenesis, invasion and decidualization play an important role in implantation and embryo development. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are crucial for the degradation/remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and are involved in spiral artery formation and invasion of endometrium during implantation. A functional single—nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the MMP9 promoter, —1562C/T, is known to influence gene expression in allele—specific manner.