Functional vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and diabetes: effect on coronary collaterals in patients with significant coronary artery disease

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis. This study tested the association between functional VEGF +405 C>G (rs2010963), -2578C>A (rs699947) polymorphisms, and coronary collaterals in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Method: The collateral scoring system developed by Rentrop was used to classify 393 patients according to their collaterals as either "poor" (grades 0 and 1) or "good" (grades 2 and 3). Gene polymorphisms were analyzed by TaqMan assay.

Results: The frequency of +405C and -2578A alleles was higher in the good collaterals group (p=0.007 and 0.005, respectively). For the +405C>G allele, the odds ratio (OR) of good collaterals for CC to GG genotype was 2.54 (p=0.003). For the -2578A allele, the OR of good collaterals for AA to CC genotype was 2.31 (p=0.038). Univariate and logistic regression analysis found 2 polymorphisms in the additive model for associations with collateral development: +405C>G (p=0.005 and 0.010) and -2578C>A (p=0.006 and 0.006). The VEGF +405C>G polymorphism and DM revealed an interactive effect on collateral development (p=0.027).

Conclusions: The VEGF +405C>G and -2578C>A polymorphisms might be novel genetic factors affecting collateral development in Chinese patients.