title: Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphism and protein expression in the pathogenesis of pterygium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression has been linked to cancer progression. Here we hypothesise that the polymorphism and protein expression of VEGF are correlated with the pathogenesis and therapy response of pterygium.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 pterygial and 121 normal conjunctival samples were collected to determine the genotypes and protein expression of VEGF. Primary pterygium cells (PECs) were used to confirm the effect of the VEGF polymorphism on the angiogenesis of pterygium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  48 (83.3%) pterygial specimens tested positive for VEGF protein expression, which was significantly higher than in the control groups (16.7%, p<0.0001). The frequency of the 936 C>T variant, but not the -2578C>A variant, was significantly higher in the pterygium group compared with the control group. VEGF protein expression was significantly higher in the 936 C/C group than in the 936 C/T and T/T groups (p=0.001). The results of our cell model showed that PECs with the C/C genotype had a higher angiogenesis ability and higher response to the antiangiogenesis drug bevacizumab than cells with the C/T and T/T genotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that VEGF could be used as a target for pterygium therapy in patients with the 936C>T genotype.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, , Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Yi-Yu
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Jai-Nien
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Chun-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Ying-Cher
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Huei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ya-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011625:Pterygium / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab
keywords: Angiogenesis; Conjunctiva; Cornea; Genetics