The importance of vascular endothelial growth factor and polymorphism of the VEGF a gene (g634c) in the development of steatosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver patients in the city of Perm

Abstract

Introduction. Chronic liver diseases are a significant medical problem all over the world. To date, there is a need to develop a set of laboratory tests, including genetic ones, to determine the risk of development and progression of steatosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver of various etiologies. Aim: To investigate the serum concentration of vasculoendothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the frequency of occurrence of VEGFA gene polymorphism genotypes in the region -634G/C (rs2010963) in patients with steatosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver in the Perm Region. Materials and methods: 258 people were examined, including 52 patients with non-alcoholic liver steatosis, 95 patients with chronic hepatitis C and liver fibrosis, 46 people with cirrhosis of the liver of viral (HCV) and alcoholic etiology and 65 practically healthy individuals. The serum concentration of VEGF was determined by enzyme immunoassay. Polymorphisms of the VEGFA gene in region -634G/C were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Result: The development of steatosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver is accompanied by endothelial damage with activation of neoangiogenesis due to hyperproduction of VEGF (p=0.001, p=0.0001 and p=0.001, respectively) in the blood serum. Elevated serum VEGF values in patients confirmed the presence of endothelial dysfunction in liver pathology. The study of the single nucleotide polymorphism of the VEGFA gene (G634C) showed a higher incidence of recessive allele C in patients with steatosis and cirrhosis in 54.81% (p=0.01) and 48.9% (p=0.04) of cases than in the control group -37.69%, which suggested the presence of an association of the carrier of allele C of this polymorphism in the form of genotypes CC or GC with a risk of developing steatosis and cirrhosis of the liver. Conclusion. Determination of the genetic marker VEGFA in the region -634G/C allows us to assess the increased risk of developing chronic liver diseases when exposed to various etiological factors.