title: Vascular endothelial growth factor polymorphisms increase the risk of developing Graves' disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Graves' disease (GD) is a consequence of genetic and environmental factors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a strong angiogenic and mitogenic factor, which plays a key role in lymphocyte infiltration, and hypervascularization in the thyroid gland of patients with GD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between GD and A-2578C, T-460C and G+405C single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of VEGF gene, as well as to evaluate whether there are any relationships between genotypes and some clinical/laboratory parameters of GD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the genotype and allele distributions of the above mentioned SNPs in 167 patients with established GD diagnosis and 203 healthy controls by real-time PCR combined with melting curve analysis using fluorescence-labeled hybridization probes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of VEGF A-2578C and T-460C genotypes and allele frequencies in control and GD groups were not significantly different. With regard to the +405 polymorphism, the frequency of C allele was 1.8-fold increased in GD patients compared to controls, and the CC genotype was associated with a 4.6-fold increased disease risk. There was no relationship between some clinical/laboratory parameters with G+405C polymorphism. However, in -2578C allele carrying GD patients the anti-thyroid antibody levels were increased according to wild homozygous. Additionally, -2578C and -460T alleles were related with early (at age before 40) disease onset.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF +405 polymorphism may be a risk factor for GD, while the -2578 SNP is related with increased autoantibody production.
authors: Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Çapa 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. pervinvural@yahoo.com
authors: Pervin
authors: P
authors: Vural
authors: Merve
authors: M
authors: Baki
authors: Semra
authors: S
authors: Doğru-Abbasoğlu
authors: Ayşenur
authors: A
authors: Özderya
authors: Berrin
authors: B
authors: Karadağ
authors: Müjdat
authors: M
authors: Uysal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012306:Risk; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A