title: Plasma vascular endothelial growth Factor-A (VEGF-A) and VEGF-A gene polymorphism are associated with hydrocele development in lymphatic filariasis.
abstract: Hydrocele is a build-up of fluid in the scrotal regions of a proportion of men infected with the filarial nematode Wuchereria bancrofti. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) are major mediators of vascular permeability and angiogenesis in the development and progression of many diseases, making them candidates in hydrocele development. We assessed the role of VEGF-A genetic polymorphisms in hydrocele development in a cohort of lymphatic filariasis patients from Ghana. Three VEGF-A promoter polymorphisms were examined. The C/C genotype at -460 was significantly higher in hydrocele patients ([P = 0.0007], OR = 3.8 [95% CI = 1.9-8.2]) than in non-hydrocele patients. Furthermore, plasma levels of VEGF-A were significantly higher in subjects with the C/C genotype than in those with other genotypes. Also, a positive correlation (R(2) = 0.412, P = 0.026) was observed between plasma VEGF-A and stage of hydrocele. The data suggest that the C polymorphism at -460 is a genetic risk factor for hydrocele development in lymphatic filariasis.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander Yaw
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Debrah
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mand
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Toliat
authors.forename: Yeboah
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Marfo-Debrekyei
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Batsa
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nürnberg
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Ohene
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoerauf
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfarr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D006848:Testicular Hydrocele / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A