Aim: to study serum levels of vascular endothelium growth factor family peptides (VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D) and functional gene polymorphisms of VEGFA gene (rs699947 and rs3025039) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) depending on the presence of ischemic heart disease (IHD).
Materials and methods: The study involved 196 Caucasian patients with T2D (age 43-70 years, 76 with IHD). The concentrations of VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D in blood serum were determined by Multiplex assay. Twenty-four persons without diabetes and IHD served as controls. The genotyping of VEGFA polymorphism -2578A/C (rs699947) and +936C/ (rs3025039) was performed by TaqMan.
Results: Concentrations of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in patients with T2D were significantly lower than those in controls (p=0.03 and p=0.006, respectively). The level of VEGF-D showed a tendency to decrease (p=0.14). Patients with IHD, as compared to other patients, had higher levels of VEGF-A (p=0.04) and a tendency to VEGF-D increase (p=0.06). The concentration of VEGF-C was not different between groups. No relationships were found between VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D levels, HbA1c or glucose variability parameters. C-allele and CC-genotype at +936 position of VEGFA were more frequent among patients with IHD (odds ratio 2.14 and 2.41, respectively, p=0.02). The rs699947 polymorphism was not related to IHD and VEGF-A levels.
Conclusion: Patients with T2D have decreased serum levels of angiogenic factors VEGF-A and VEGF-C. VEGFA rs3025039 polymorphism is associated with presence of IHD and levels of circulating VEGF-A in these patients.
Keywords: angiogenesis; gene polymorphism; ischemic heart disease; type 2 diabetes; vascular endothelium growth factor.