The Protective Effects of the VEGF -2578C>A and -1154G>A Polymorphisms Against Hypertension Susceptibility

It has been reported that plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are elevated in hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of -2578C>A and -1154G>A polymorphisms in the VEGF gene with susceptibility to hypertension.

A total of 640 subjects (320 hypertensive patients and 320 healthy normotensive subjects) were enrolled in the study. Genotyping of the -2578C>A and -1154G>A polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

The CA and AA genotypes and dominant and recessive models of the -2578C>A polymorphism were protective against MetS susceptibility (p<0.0001, p=0.001, p<0.0001, and p=0.015, respectively). The GA genotype and dominant model (GG vs. GA+AA) of the -1154G >A polymorphism were found less frequently in patients with hypertension compared to the controls (p=0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively). Haplotypes of the -2578C>A and -1154G>A polymorphisms were also different between the patients and controls.

The A allele of the -2578C>A polymorphism and haplotypes of the -2578C>A and -1154G>A polymorphisms in the promoter region of the VEGF gene might be protective against the development of hypertension in Koreans. Further studies examining these associations in other populations are warranted.