Objectives: We investigated the possible involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) gene promoter polymorphisms in essential hypertension (EH).
Design and methods: 1225bp of the VEGF-A gene promoter were screened for polymorphisms using PCR amplification and direct DNA sequence analysis in 62 EH and 62 normotensive (HS) individuals. Circulating VEGF-A levels were determined by immunoassay.
Results: -152G/A (p=0.009) and -116G/A (p=0.016) polymorphisms were correlated to hypertension (p<0.05). Median platelet VEGF-A load in EH was 2.10fg/plt. Patients with microvascular complications (MC) had higher platelet VEGF-A load than those without (p=0.005). Multivariate analyses showed that -116 A allele was an independent predictor of microalbuminuria (p=0.014) and increased platelet VEGF-A load (p=0.009) in EH. Platelet VEGF-A load independently predicted MC (p=0.049) in addition to -116G/A polymorphism (p=0.035).
Conclusions: Abnormal regulation of VEGF-A due to polymorphism at position -116 might represent a genetic factor for increased VEGF-A production and MC in EH.
Copyright (c) 2010 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.