Association between Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Plasma Levels and rs699947 Polymorphism and Coronary Collateral Vessel Formation

Background: The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as an angiogenic cytokine, binds endothelial cell receptors and stimulates angiogenesis and collateral formation. We evaluated the association between VEGF plasma levels and the gene polymorphism rs699947 and the formation of coronary collaterals in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: A total of 195 patients with ≥70% narrowing in at least 1 coronary vessel (according to coronary angiography) were included in the study. The presence of the rs699947 polymorphism within the promoter of the VEGF gene was investigated using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The plasma VEGF concentration was quantified via the ELISA method. The Rentrop method was used to grade the extent of collateral development. Results: There was no significant difference in VEGF levels between the groups with good and poor collaterals. The frequency of the A allele of rs699947 was found to be higher in the patients with good collaterals than in those with poor collaterals (P=0.014). The odds ratio of good collaterals for AA was 2.67 (P=0.025) when compared with the CC genotype. Further, our additive model revealed an association between the rs699947 polymorphism and collateral formation (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.05–3.65, P=0.033). Conclusion: The rs699947 polymorphism might be a novel genetic factor affecting collateral development in Iranian patients with coronary artery disease.