title: The HIF1A C85T single nucleotide polymorphism influences the number of branches of the human coronary tree.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypoxia is required for the development of the cardiovascular system. Tissue adaptation to low oxygen is mediated through hypoxia-inducible factor 1. Hypoxia-driven gradients of vascular endothelial growth factor within the heart drive vessel tip sprouting and the angiogenic phase of vasculogenesis. We hypothesized that functional variants of the HIF1A C85T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) are associated with the number of coronary artery branches in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Coronary artery branching in 88 individuals was assessed by dynamic counting of the arterial branches detected in coronary angiograms. Values were classified on the basis of the branches emerging from the right and left coronary arteries. HIF1A C85T genotypes were determined using TaqMan-based assays. A generalized linear model was used to measure the effect of each SNP on the response variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of the T allele in the HIF1A C85T SNP was associated with few branches of the coronary arteries: 81.03 ± 1.79 for individuals with the CC genotype versus 74.09 ± 2.48 for T-carrying ones (p = 0.042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The functionality of HIF1A may influence the degree of branching of the human coronary tree. We propose that the HIF1A C85T SNP is a genetic marker that determines interindividual differences in the human coronary artery pattern.
authors.affiliation: Unitat d'Anatomia i Embriologia Humanes, Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Campus de Ciències de la Salut de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Götzens
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carballo
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Màrius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cordero
authors.forename: María Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sánchez Olavarría
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reig
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Anta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit