Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026

In Vitro Model of Coronary Angiogenesis
Published on: March 10, 2020
VEGF-A gene promoter polymorphisms and microvascular complications in patients with essential hypertension
Raffaele Palmirotta1, Patrizia Ferroni, Giorgia Ludovici
1Department of Laboratory Medicine & Advanced Biotechnologies, IRCCS San Raffaele, Rome, Italy.
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.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

