Association of rs6921438 A

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified common variants at the Vascular-Endothelial-Growth-Factor (VEGF) gene locus, which appear to be associated with plasma VEGF concentrations. These factors are among the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome (MetS). We have investigated the association between serum VEGF concentrations and a VEGF genetic variant (rs6921438 A
Methods: In total of 852 individuals, genotyping was performed using polymerase-chain-reaction and restriction-fragment-length-polymorphisms. Serum VEGF level was determined in 122 subjects using the EV 3513 cytokine biochip array. Anthropometric and biochemical characteristics, including fasting blood glucose and lipid profile evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. The association of the polymorphism with serum VEGF level and its interaction with dietary intake in association with the essential determinants of cardiovascular risk factors were assessed.

Results: As would be expected, patients with MetS had markedly higher body mass index, waist-circumference, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, hs-CRP and blood pressure, and lower concentrations of HDL-C, compared to non-MetS individuals (P < 0.05). The association between the rs6921438 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and the presence of MetS and individual features of MetS were not statistically significant. Interestingly we observed a significant association between high serum VEGF levels with the GG and GA genotypes in the individuals with MetS, compared to the wild-type genotype, which was also associated with dietary fat intake.

Conclusion: Our findings show an association between a VEGF gene polymorphism with serum VEGF concentrations and dietary fat intake, but there was no association with the presence of MetS.