TY - JOUR
T1 - VEGF genetic variability is associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
AU - Del Bo, Roberto
AU - Ghezzi, Serena
AU - Scarpini, Elio
AU - Bresolin, Nereo
AU - Comi, Giacomo Pietro
PY - 2009/8/15
Y1 - 2009/8/15
N2 - Specific polymorphisms within the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene promoter region are of particular interest: VEGF variability has been associated with increased risk of developing a wide variety of disorders from diabetes to neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting functions not confined to its originally described vascular effects. A hypothetical loss of the VEGF-mediated neuroprotective effect has been proposed as a cause of neurodegenerative disorders. An impaired regulation of VEGF expression has been also reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Recently, VEGF gene promoter polymorphisms have been associated with an increased risk for AD in the Italian population. Conversely, two subsequent studies failed to find a positive association between VEGF variability and greater risk for AD. To better clarify this issue, a meta-analysis of all published association studies has been performed. Overall, polymorphic variants within VEGF gene promoter confer greater risk for AD at least in the Italian population; the meta-analysis provides evidence of a role of the functional variant C(-2578)A in the pathogenesis of the disease, although the pooled odds ratio obtained represents a modest effect. These findings provide new evidence for an additional candidate genetic risk factor for AD that can be tested in further studies.
AB - Specific polymorphisms within the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene promoter region are of particular interest: VEGF variability has been associated with increased risk of developing a wide variety of disorders from diabetes to neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting functions not confined to its originally described vascular effects. A hypothetical loss of the VEGF-mediated neuroprotective effect has been proposed as a cause of neurodegenerative disorders. An impaired regulation of VEGF expression has been also reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Recently, VEGF gene promoter polymorphisms have been associated with an increased risk for AD in the Italian population. Conversely, two subsequent studies failed to find a positive association between VEGF variability and greater risk for AD. To better clarify this issue, a meta-analysis of all published association studies has been performed. Overall, polymorphic variants within VEGF gene promoter confer greater risk for AD at least in the Italian population; the meta-analysis provides evidence of a role of the functional variant C(-2578)A in the pathogenesis of the disease, although the pooled odds ratio obtained represents a modest effect. These findings provide new evidence for an additional candidate genetic risk factor for AD that can be tested in further studies.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Gene polymorphisms
KW - Genetic variability
KW - Neurodegeneration
KW - Risk factor
KW - Vascular endothelial growth factor
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jns.2009.02.318
DO - 10.1016/j.jns.2009.02.318
M3 - Article
C2 - 19272614
AN - SCOPUS:67650149742
VL - 283
SP - 66
EP - 68
JO - Journal of the Neurological Sciences
JF - Journal of the Neurological Sciences
SN - 0022-510X
IS - 1-2
ER -