title: VEGF genetic variability is associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Specific polymorphisms within the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene promoter region are of particular interest: VEGF variability has been associated with increased risk of developing a wide variety of disorders from diabetes to neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting functions not confined to its originally described vascular effects. A hypothetical loss of the VEGF-mediated neuroprotective effect has been proposed as a cause of neurodegenerative disorders. An impaired regulation of VEGF expression has been also reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Recently, VEGF gene promoter polymorphisms have been associated with an increased risk for AD in the Italian population. Conversely, two subsequent studies failed to find a positive association between VEGF variability and greater risk for AD. To better clarify this issue, a meta-analysis of all published association studies has been performed. Overall, polymorphic variants within VEGF gene promoter confer greater risk for AD at least in the Italian population; the meta-analysis provides evidence of a role of the functional variant C(-2578)A in the pathogenesis of the disease, although the pooled odds ratio obtained represents a modest effect. These findings provide new evidence for an additional candidate genetic risk factor for AD that can be tested in further studies.
authors.affiliation: Dino Ferrari Centre, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, IRCCS Foundation Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Mangiagalli and Regina Elena, Milan, Italy. roberto.delbo@unimi.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del Bo
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghezzi
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarpini
authors.forename: Nereo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bresolin
authors.forename: Giacomo Pietro
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Comi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A