{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T17:42:17Z","timestamp":1790185337255,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]],"date-time":"2025-12-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1765843200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"\u201cRegional Excellence Initiative\u201d program","award":["27\/RID\/PR.N\/11\/2024"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["27\/RID\/PR.N\/11\/2024"]}]},{"name":"Mid-Career Scientist Programme"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Genes"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) frequently occur in physically active populations and often lead to long-term complications, such as osteoarthritis and recurrent injury. The ACL\u2019s structural integrity depends on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, regulated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This study examined the association between three polymorphisms\u2014MMP1 rs1799750, MMP10 rs486055, and MMP12 rs2276109\u2014and ACL injury outcomes, including injury frequency, strain, partial rupture, and complete rupture. Methods: A total of 296 physically active, unrelated Caucasian males participated in this case\u2013control study, including 160 with ACL injuries (classified as ACLF\u2014ACL injury frequency, ACLS\u2014strain, ACLRP\u2014partial rupture, ACLRC\u2014complete rupture, and ACL\u2014general ACL injury) and 136 healthy controls (CON) with no previous ACL injuries. All injuries resulted from non-contact mechanisms. Results: The MMP1 rs1799750 polymorphism showed a protective effect against ACL injury compared to controls (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21\u20130.85, Padj = 0.014). Within the injury group, MMP10 rs486055 was significantly associated with partial ruptures, especially in heterozygous carriers (OR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.64\u20137.33, p = 0.001). The MMP12 rs2276109 variant, under a dominant model, was linked to higher injury frequency (OR = 3.80, 95% CI: 1.69\u20138.54, p = 0.0009) but showed no association with injury severity. Conclusions: The MMP1 rs1799750 polymorphism showed a protective effect against ACL injury, MMP10 rs486055 was associated with an increased risk of partial rupture, and MMP12 rs2276109 was linked to higher injury frequency. These findings highlight the complex genetic and biomechanical interactions underlying ACL injuries. The MMP1 rs1799750 polymorphism showed a protective effect (58% reduction in the odds compared to controls) against ACL injury, MMP10 rs486055 was associated with an increased risk (3.47 times higher odds) of partial rupture, and MMP12 rs2276109 was linked to 3.8 times higher odds of an injury. Identifying genetic risk factors may support personalized injury prevention and rehabilitation strategies, offering new opportunities to reduce long-term complications in athletes and active individuals.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/genes16121505","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]],"date-time":"2025-12-16T11:00:26Z","timestamp":1765882826000},"page":"1505","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Matrix Metalloproteinase Polymorphisms as Genetic Risk Factors for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Football Players: A Case\u2013Control Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-0227-106X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kinga Wiktoria","family":"\u0141osi\u0144ska","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Biology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Kazimierza G\u00f3rskiego 1, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5567-3160","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Agata","family":"Rzeszutko-Be\u0142zowska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, University of Rzesz\u00f3w Cicha 2a, 35-326 Rzesz\u00f3w, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Krzysztof","family":"Ficek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy in Musculoskeletal Dysfunctions, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Mikolowska 72a, 40-065 Katowice, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5726-4435","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Myosotis","family":"Massidda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5194-4912","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giovanna Maria","family":"Ghiani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sports Physiology Laboratory, University of Cagliari, Universit\u00e0 40, 09124 Cagliari, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pawe\u0142","family":"Ci\u0119szczyk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Biology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Kazimierza G\u00f3rskiego 1, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alison Victoria","family":"September","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre (HPALS), Division of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7700, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.29359\/BJHPA.11.4.13","article-title":"Diagnosis, treatment and statistic of anterior cruciate ligament injuries","volume":"11","author":"Gwiazdon","year":"2019","journal-title":"Balt. 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