Impact of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Association on Acute Renal Allograft Rejection

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a cytokine which plays an important role in the division, proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. In the kidney, VEGF expression is found in glomerular podocytes and in tubular epithelial cells, which may result in acute inflammatory reactions. Methods: The role of VEGF gene polymorphisms (-2578 C/A, -2549 18 bp Ins/Del, -1154 G/A and +936 C/T) was investigated in 272 patients who underwent renal transplantation. ARMS-PCR and PCR-RFLP were used. Patients were categorized into acute allograft rejection (n = 76) and nonrejection (n = 196). Results: The VEGF -1154 GG genotype and the +936 T allele were found to be susceptible to acute rejection (AR). T-A-A-I, T-A-A-D, T-G-C-I and C-A-A-I haplotypes revealed a predisposition among AR cases. In silico analysis revealed +936 T as a significant allele involved in the transcription regulation. Conclusion: These results highlight the role of VEGF polymorphisms in acute allograft rejection. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel