Evaluation of VEGFA gene variants for possible roles in cerebral infarction diseases

Abstract

Background: Cerebral infarction is one of the most common cerebral small vessel diseases. Many angiogenesis relevanted factors have special roles on the diseases pathogenesis. The vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is the most prominent stimulating molecule factor for angiogenesis. So, we want to evaluate the correlation between VEGFA gene and this disease in this work. Methods: The VEGFA gene was sequenced for 400 cerebral infarction patients and 600 normal controls. SPSS software (version 19.0), Plink (version 1.9), Haploview software and online software SNPSpD were used for the statistical analyses and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium tests. Results: We found variants rs10434, rs3025040, rs185218985, rs199971699, rs574579489, rs735286 and rs833061 within or near the VEGFA gene. The genetic heterozygosity of rs10434, rs3025040, rs735286 and rs833061 was very high. Statistical analysis showed that the variants rs10434 (P=0.041) and rs735286 (P=0.034) in the gene were associated with the risk of cerebral infarction diseases in the Chinese Han population. Conclusions: VEGFA variants rs10434 and rs735286 were associated with the risk of cerebral infarction diseases in the Chinese Han population.