Gene Regulation and Systems Biology   

Jihene Lachheb¹, Hanene Chelbi¹, Imen Ben Dhifallah¹, Jamel Ammar^1,2, Kamel Hamzaoui¹ and Agnès Hamzaoui²

¹Medicine University of Tunis, Homeostasis and cell Dysfunction Unit Research 99/UR/08-40, Tunis, Tunisia. ²Pneumology Hospital A Mami, Pavillon B; Department of Pediatric and Respiratory Diseases, Ariana, Tunisia.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies demonstrated that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was being implicated in the airways inflammation and remodeling process in patients with asthma.

Aims: We explored the relationship of three polymorphisms in the VEGF gene with asthma in both case control and family studies.

Methods: We Genotyped a total of 210 children with asthma, 224 unrelated controls and 160 parents for the +936 C > T (rs3025039), −634 G > C (rs2010963) and −2549 –2567 del 18 of the VEGF promoter region. The Mutations were identified with polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis for the +936 C > T, and −634 G > C polymorphisms.

Results: Of the three polymorphisms studied, a borderline association with asthma was found for the G allele in the −634 G > C polymorphism (p = 0.059). No Statistically significant differences were observed for both +936 C > T, and −2549 –2567 del 18 polymorphisms between asthmatic patients and controls, considering either allelic or genotypic frequencies.

The distribution of genotypes according to the severity status revealed a significant differences for the +936 C > T, and −2549 –2567 del 18 polymorphisms. In addition, association was found with the haplotypes inferred by the three polymorphisms and asthma susceptibility.

Conclusion: We suggest that VEGF Gene polymorphisms can be implicated in asthma.