# Evaluating the impact of Matrilin-1 gene polymorphisms on mandibular prognathism: A meta-analysis

## TL;DR

This study finds no strong evidence that Matrilin-1 gene variations are linked to a jaw condition called mandibular prognathism, despite biological reasons suggesting they might be.

## Contribution

The study is the first meta-analysis to evaluate the association between MATN1 gene polymorphisms and mandibular prognathism.

## Key findings

- MATN1 rs20566 and rs1065755 polymorphisms are not significantly associated with mandibular prognathism risk.
- High heterogeneity was observed among the studies included in the meta-analysis.
- The results contradict the biological role of matrilin-1 in cartilage development, suggesting the need for further research.

## Abstract

Matrilin-1 was shown to regulate the formation of cartilage matrix and to promote chondrocyte differentiation. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize evidence regarding the link between mandibular prognathism (MP) risk and the polymorphisms in the MATN1 gene.

Relevant publications were retrieved by searching the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. The association between MP and the MATN1 gene polymorphisms (rs20566, rs1065755) was assessed by calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % CIs. Between studies, heterogeneity was identified using the Cochrane Q test and I2 statistics. To assess the robustness of the meta-analysis sensitivity analysis was performed. The web tool MetaGenyo was used to conduct a meta-analysis.

A total of four Asian and one Caucasian study were eventually taken for meta-analysis. Overall, the MATN1 rs20566 and rs1065755 polymorphisms are not associated with elevated risk of MP (rs20566 AA + AG versus GG OR = 1.35, 95 % CI = 0.32–5.67; rs1065755 TT + CT versus CC OR = 2.02, 95 % CI = 0.87–4.68). The degree of heterogeneity is found to be large for the MATN1 polymorphisms (for rs20566, I2=89 %, and for rs1065755, I2=60 %).

In conclusion, this meta-analysis did not provide evidence for the link between MATN1 polymorphisms and MP. However, the results conflict with the biological plausibility that matrilin-1 levels modulate cartilage development. Therefore, careful interpretation is needed, and further research is recommended.

Image 1