title: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor -460 C/T BstUI Gene Polymorphism is associated with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypoxia and nitric oxide (NO) play important roles in the onset and progression of glaucoma. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the main factors responsive to hypoxia and NO. In this study, we investigated the association between theBstUI C/T VEGF gene polymorphism and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).
  
  
  METHODS
  60 POAG patients and 78 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. The most frequently observed polymorphism in the VEGF gene isBstUI C/T, which was located 460 nucleotides upstream of the gene. The polymorphism was observed using polymerase chain reaction-based restriction analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were observed in the distribution of the polymorphism between control subjects and POAG patients (p= 0.003). C/C homozygotes are absent in the control group; therefore, this genotype represents a suitable genetic maker for POAG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypoxia and NO may be involved in the pathway whereby the VEGF-460 polymorphism regulates POAG. Furthermore, homozygous C/C VEGF genotype is a useful maker for Chinese POAG.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Hypoxia and nitric oxide (NO) play important roles in the onset and progression of glaucoma. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the main factors responsive to hypoxia and NO. In this study, we investigated the association between theBstUI C/T VEGF gene polymorphism and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).
  
  
  METHODS
  60 POAG patients and 78 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. The most frequently observed polymorphism in the VEGF gene isBstUI C/T, which was located 460 nucleotides upstream of the gene. The polymorphism was observed using polymerase chain reaction-based restriction analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were observed in the distribution of the polymorphism between control subjects and POAG patients (p= 0.003). C/C homozygotes are absent in the control group; therefore, this genotype represents a suitable genetic maker for POAG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypoxia and NO may be involved in the pathway whereby the VEGF-460 polymorphism regulates POAG. Furthermore, homozygous C/C VEGF genotype is a useful maker for Chinese POAG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan ; School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, No.91 Hsueh-shih Road, 404 Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hui-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan ; School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, No.91 Hsueh-shih Road, 404 Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Lu
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ter-Hsin
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, No.91 Hsueh-shih Road, 404 Taichung, Taiwan ; Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan ; Department of Gynecology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wan
keywords: Genetic polymorphism; Glaucoma; Growth factor; Hypoxia; Nitric oxide; Primary open angle; Vasogenetic endogenous