title: Vascular endothelial growth factor-A mRNA gene expression in clinical phases of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular endothelial growth factor A stimulates angiogenesis, but is also pro-inflammatory and plays an important role in the development of neurological disease. This study aimed to investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor A mRNA expression could be used as a marker for the prediction of susceptibility to multiple sclerosis and relate vascular endothelial growth factor to the clinical phases of multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study, consisting of a total of 60 subjects with multiple sclerosis and 20 healthy controls. Subjects were subjected to history taking, neurological examination and peripheral blood sampling for vascular endothelial growth factor A mRNA gene expression. Vascular endothelial growth factor A gene expression was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction using the SYBR Green technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vascular endothelial growth factor A mRNA gene expression level was significantly lower in the multiple sclerosis group than in the healthy control group (P < 0.001). Vascular endothelial growth factor A mRNA gene expression level was higher in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients than in those in remission (P < 0.001) and in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis compared with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (P < 0.001). There was no correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor A gene expression levels and duration of disease, multiple sclerosis progression index or expanded disability status scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A lower vascular endothelial growth factor A mRNA gene expression level was independently associated with a higher risk of multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Monawara, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt hoiydaahmedelmenshawy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hoiyda A Abdel
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Rasol
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Helmy
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sherine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El-Mously
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Egypt.
authors.forename: Margeret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hossam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El Bahaie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: VEGF gene expression; clinical phases of multiple sclerosis