Genome-wide Association Scan Identifies Variants near Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) Genes on Chromosome 11q21-22 Strongly Associated with Serum MMP-1 Levels Running Title: Genome-wide association study of MMP-1 levels

Yu-Ching Cheng, PhD, Wen-Hong L. Kao, PhD, Braxton D. Mitchell, PhD, Jeffrey R. O’Connell, PhD, Haiqing Shen, PhD, Patrick F McArdle, PhD, Quince Gibson, MBA, Kathleen A. Ryan, MPH, Alan R. Shuldiner, MD, Toni I. Pollin, PhD 1. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; 2. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; 3. Geriatrics Research and Education Clinical Center, Baltimore, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland USA