title: VEGF-A gene promoter polymorphisms and microvascular complications in patients with essential hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the possible involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) gene promoter polymorphisms in essential hypertension (EH).
  
  
  METHODS
  1225bp of the VEGF-A gene promoter were screened for polymorphisms using PCR amplification and direct DNA sequence analysis in 62 EH and 62 normotensive (HS) individuals. Circulating VEGF-A levels were determined by immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  -152G/A (p=0.009) and -116G/A (p=0.016) polymorphisms were correlated to hypertension (p<0.05). Median platelet VEGF-A load in EH was 2.10fg/plt. Patients with microvascular complications (MC) had higher platelet VEGF-A load than those without (p=0.005). Multivariate analyses showed that -116 A allele was an independent predictor of microalbuminuria (p=0.014) and increased platelet VEGF-A load (p=0.009) in EH. Platelet VEGF-A load independently predicted MC (p=0.049) in addition to -116G/A polymorphism (p=0.035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal regulation of VEGF-A due to polymorphism at position -116 might represent a genetic factor for increased VEGF-A production and MC in EH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine & Advanced Biotechnologies, IRCCS San Raffaele, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Palmirotta
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferroni
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ludovici
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savonarola
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Raparelli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Proietti
authors.forename: Antongiulio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarno
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riondino
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basili
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guadagni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001792:Blood Platelets; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A