Association of <i>VEGF</i> gene rs699947 and rs2010963 polymorphisms with vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the blood serum of children with lupus nephritis

Abstract

The growth factor genes VEGF and TGFB1 are involved in the normal functioning of the kidneys, and some polymorphic loci of these genes determine a genetic predisposition to the autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its dangerous complication, lupus nephritis (LN). The products of these genes, in particular, the vascular endothelial growth factor protein and the transforming growth factor β1 protein are used in clinical practice as markers of endothelial dysfunction for early diagnosis of kidney pathology. However, the relationship between the expression of these proteins and the genotypes/alleles of the polymorphic loci of these genes has not been studied enough, which requires clarification of this issue for the child population of Belarus. In this work, we analyzed the associations of the TGFB1 (rs1800469) and VEGF (rs699947 and rs2010963) gene genotypes with the concentration of their products in the blood serum of patients with LN during exacerbation and remission of the disease. The study did not find a significant relationship between polymorphic variants of the TGFB1 gene (rs1800469) and levels of its product in the blood. An association has been established between the rs699947 and rs2010963 polymorphic variants of the VEGF gene and the serum concentration of the gene product in pediatric patients with LN during exacerbation. It was found that the homozygous minor genotype AA of the polymorphic locus rs699947 and the group of genotypes GC + CC containing at least one minor allele of the locus rs2010963 are associated with higher levels of the gene product in the blood serum of children with LN during disease exacerbation (p < 0.001 and p = 0.036, respectively). Thus, VEGF polymorphic variants associated with an increased concentration of the gene product in the blood serum during disease exacerbation can be considered as markers of the risk of disease exacerbation in patients with LN.