title: Vascular endothelial growth factor A polymorphism and risk of Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus viremia in kidney allograft recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) causes Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman's disease in immunocompromised patients including allograft recipients. Detection of KSHV DNA in blood, as well as host genetic polymorphisms has been found to be associated with an increased risk for KS. We investigated an association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) gene region and KSHV viremia in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 152 KTR who have survived kidney transplantation for at least 6 months were included in the study. KSHV viremia was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Genotyping of SNPs in the VEGFA region was performed by PCR and direct sequencing, as well as by restriction fragment length polymorphism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  KSHV DNA was detected in 28.9% (n = 44) of the study population. The A-allele at position C172A VEGFA gene promoter region was found to be associated with KSHV viremia (odd ratio [OR] = 4.8, P = 0.005). In addition, the G-allele at position C+405G in the 5'-untranslated region was associated with KSHV viremia in women, but not in men (OR = 3.98, P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest an association of VEGFA polymorphisms with KSHV viremia among KTR in this study population. A limitation of our study is that the results can only be predicated for patients 6 months after kidney transplantation and should be validated in another cohort with larger sample size.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Consultation Studies, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Alkharsah
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Alzahrani
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Obeid
authors.forename: E-H A
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: El-Harith
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guella
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Haykal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stuhrmann
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Al-Ali
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D000328:Adult; D064591:Allografts; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000235:genetics*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012737:Sex Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*; D014766:Viremia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: KSHV; Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus; VEGFA; kidney transplantation; polymorphism; viremia