title: Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) polymorphisms in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is the most potent proangiogenic molecule promoting the angiogenic phenotype of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We hypothesized that VEGFA polymorphisms may contribute to RA susceptibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied VEGFA rs699947 C/A, rs2010963 G/C, and rs3025039 C/T gene polymorphisms in 329 patients with RA and 697 controls in a Chinese population. Genotyping was performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGFA rs699947 C/A, rs2010963 G/C, and rs3025039 C/T polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of RA. However, in the dominant genetic model, a significantly decreased risk for RA associated with the VEGFA rs699947 CA/AA genotypes was evident among older patients and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)-negative patients compared with the VEGFA rs699947 CC genotype. A significantly decreased risk for RA associated with the VEGFA rs699947 CA genotype was evident among older patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) VEGFA rs699947 C/A allele may decrease the risk of RA in older patients and ACPA-negative patients. However, our results were obtained from a moderate-sized sample and therefore this is a preliminary conclusion. Validation by a larger study from a more diverse ethnic population is needed to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University , Changzhou No. 4 People's Hospital, Changzhou , China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000276:immunology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide