The beneficial effects of recipient-derived vascular endothelial growth factor on graft survival after kidney transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is crucial for preservation of microvasculature and contributes to cytoprotection of the graft after kidney transplantation.


METHODS
The authors investigated the influence of VEGF single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on graft survival after renal transplantation. The SNP at positions -2578, -1154, and, -7 were analyzed in 306 donors and 387 recipients of renal transplants.


RESULTS
The authors observed no effect of those recipient or donor SNP on acute rejection. However, graft survival was associated with recipient SNP at position -2578 C/A. Recipients with a genetic basis for high production of VEGF had significantly better graft survival compared with recipients with low production of VEGF. Homozygotes for the A allele (low producers of VEGF) had worse graft survival compared with high producers, the heterozygotes and homozygotes for C allele (P=0.03). Multivariate analysis in which the effects of donor age, recipient race, cold ischemia time, donor origin, and number of human leukocyte antigen mismatches were included showed that the status of noncarriers of -2578 C allele of recipients was an independent factor for graft failure (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-3.0; P=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
The authors conclude that homozygote recipients for the -2578 A allele, the low producers of VEGF, are more vulnerable to tissue injury, resulting in worse graft survival.
Lemos
Francine B C
FB
Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Mol
Wendy M
WM
Roodnat
Joke I
JI
Uitterlinden
André
A
Ijzermans
Jan N M
JN
Weimar
Willem
W
Baan
Carla C
CC
D001483:Base Sequence; D002102:Cadaver; D017931:DNA Primers; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000401:mortality / Q000502:physiology*; D019520:Living Donors; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014019:Tissue Donors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D017931:DNA Primers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A