VEGF-A gene promoter polymorphisms and microvascular complications in patients with essential hypertension.
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.
Palmirotta
Raffaele
R
Department of Laboratory Medicine & Advanced Biotechnologies, IRCCS San Raffaele, Rome, Italy.
Ferroni
Patrizia
P
Ludovici
Giorgia
G
Martini
Francesca
F
Savonarola
Annalisa
A
D'Alessandro
Roberta
R
Raparelli
Valeria
V
Proietti
Marco
M
Scarno
Antongiulio
A
Riondino
Silvia
S
Basili
Stefania
S
Guadagni
Fiorella
F
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*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A