Genetic variation and plasma level of the basic fibroblast growth factor in proliferative diabetic retinopathy

The basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is considered to be one of the candidate genes in the processes of tumour growth and angiogenesis. The aim of the present investigation was to find possible association of new polymorphisms in bFGF with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and determine the plasma level in PDR. Allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies were determined in the association study comprising three groups of Caucasian subjects (n=488) (diabetics with/ PDR/ and without retinopathy/ non-PDR/ and non-diabetics/ non-DM/) in order to identify genetic marker for PDR. The plasma level of the bFGF protein was analysed by ELISA method. Significantly higher frequencies of 754C allele of the new 754C/G polymorphisms was found between PDR and non-DM group (p=0.05, OR=1.38). The comparison of plasma level of the bFGF showed statistically significant difference among studied groups (p=0.001). The bFGF plasma level in PDR group was significantly higher than in the groups of non-PDR and non-DM (p=0.017, p=0.001, respectively) and was significantly higher for CC and GC genotypes of 754C/G polymorphism in PDR group (p=0.006). Increased plasma level of the bFGF confirmed the importance of this candidate gene in the formation of PDR. However, the regulatory mechanisms of the bFGF level need further examinations.