Noora D. Abd
Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Diyala
Nagham Y. Albayati
Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Diyala
Ali H. Abbas
Topical-Biological Research Unit, College of Sciences, University of Baghdad
ABSTRACT
Background: Scabies is a contagious parasitic skin disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, leading to severe itching, dermatitis, and skin lesions. The infection triggers host immune responses, activating T and B lymphocytes and inducing both cellular and humoral immunity, along with an allergic reaction. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a zinc-dependent enzyme involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and tissue degradation, playing a crucial role in inflammatory and immune-mediated skin disorders. This study investigates serum MMP-9 levels and genetic polymorphisms in patients with scabies to assess their potential role in disease susceptibility. Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Baquba Teaching Hospital, Dermatology Unit, Diyala Governorate, from December 4, 2022, to June 10, 2023. A total of 75 patients diagnosed with scabies and 75 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were enrolled as controls. Serum MMP-9 levels were measured, and allele-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (ASP-PCR) was used to analyze MMP-9 gene polymorphisms at rs17576 and rs760670157. Results: MMP-9 levels were significantly elevated in scabies patients compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Genetic analysis revealed an increased frequency of the GG and TG genotypes, along with a higher prevalence of the G allele in scabies patients at the rs17576 locus, suggesting an association with disease susceptibility. Conversely, the TT genotype and T allele were less frequent in the scabies group. At the rs760670157 locus, the GA genotype and A allele were more prevalent in scabies patients, whereas the GG and AA genotypes and G allele were found at lower frequencies compared to controls. Conclusion: This study suggests that MMP-9 gene polymorphisms may be associated with susceptibility to scabies. The presence of TG and GG genotypes, as well as the G allele at rs17576, and the GA genotype and A allele at rs760670157, appear to be risk factors for scabies development. Further research is needed to explore the functional impact of these polymorphisms on MMP-9 expression and their role in scabies pathogenesis.
Keywords: Scabies, MMP-9, Genotypes, rs17576, rs760670157.
