title: Correlation of VEGF genetic polymorphisms and lipid profile to aortic calcification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aortic calcification is developed due to accumulation of a large amount of calcium in the aorta of the heart and it is the leading cause of aortic valve replacement and third leading cause of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between aortic calcification and VEGF SNPs (-2578C>A, -1154G>A and +936C>T) and to evaluate the association of these SNPs with biochemical parameter in relation to aortic calcification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aortic calcification was diagnosed by examining the posteroanterior chest X-rays by a radiologist and graded into four groups. The real-time polymerase chain reaction with melting curve analysis in LightCycler was used to genotype the VEGF SNPs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the VEGF SNPs, a significant genetic difference was found only between the aortic calcification and control group with VEGF SNP -2578C>A but haplotypes T-A-A of (+936/-1154/-2578) were significantly different in control and aortic calcification and could enhance the aortic calcification development. By regression analysis, it was found that age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hyperhomocysteinemia were found significantly different with the different genotypes of VEGF SNPs which may induce aortic calcification development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hyperhomocysteinemia were established as aggravating factors for the aortic calcification in association with different VEGF genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Chonbuk National University Graduate School, Jeonju, Chonbuk, Republic of Korea; Department of Biochemistry, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Binod Kumar
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Yoochan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Chonbuk, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Chonbuk, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sbsoo@jbnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Byoung-Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000235:genetics; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000235:genetics; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Aortic calcification; Single nucleotide polymorphism; VEGF