Tsai Yi-Yu, Chiang Chun-Chi, Bau Da-Tian, Cheng Ya-Wen, Lee Huei, Tseng Sung-Huei, Tsai Fuu-Jen
Department of Ophthalmology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Cornea. 2008 May;27(4):476-9. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e3181644581.
Pterygium is composed of proliferating fibrovascular tissue, and its formation and progression require neovascularization. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a specific mitogen for vascular endothelial cells and is essential for neovascularization. Recently, the VEGF-460 polymorphism was reported to be associated with increased VEGF basal promoter activity and with several fibrovascular diseases, such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy, endometriosis, and chronic renal disease. Therefore, this study evaluated the potential association between pterygium formation and VEGF-460 polymorphism.
One hundred twenty-seven pterygium patients and 102 volunteers without pterygium were enrolled in this study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was used to resolve the VEGF-460 genotypes of pterygium patients and normal controls.
There were no significant differences between pterygium and control groups in age, sex, and distribution of genotype and allelic frequency of VEGF-460 polymorphism. However, when results were stratified by sex, there were significant differences between female patients and controls in the distribution of genotype and allelic frequency of VEGF-460 polymorphism. Females who carried at least 1 C allele (C/C and C/T genotypes) had about a 2.5-fold increased risk of developing pterygium compared with those who carried the T/T genotype, and there was a significantly higher frequency of C/C and C/T genotypes in younger female patients than in older female patients. There were no differences between male patients and controls in the distribution of genotype and allelic frequency of the VEGF-460 polymorphism.
VEGF-460C polymorphism is associated with pterygium formation in female patients. Females who carried the C allele have increased risk of developing pterygium at a younger age.
翼状胬肉由增生的纤维血管组织构成，其形成和进展需要新生血管形成。血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）是血管内皮细胞的特异性促有丝分裂原，对新生血管形成至关重要。最近，有报道称VEGF - 460多态性与VEGF基础启动子活性增加以及几种纤维血管疾病有关，如增殖性糖尿病视网膜病变、子宫内膜异位症和慢性肾病。因此，本研究评估了翼状胬肉形成与VEGF - 460多态性之间的潜在关联。
本研究纳入了127例翼状胬肉患者和102例无翼状胬肉的志愿者。采用聚合酶链反应 - 限制性片段长度多态性分析来确定翼状胬肉患者和正常对照的VEGF - 460基因型。
翼状胬肉组与对照组在年龄、性别以及VEGF - 460多态性的基因型和等位基因频率分布上无显著差异。然而，按性别分层时，女性患者与对照组在VEGF - 460多态性的基因型和等位基因频率分布上存在显著差异。携带至少1个C等位基因（C/C和C/T基因型）的女性患翼状胬肉的风险比携带T/T基因型的女性高约2.5倍，且年轻女性患者中C/C和C/T基因型的频率显著高于老年女性患者。男性患者与对照组在VEGF - 该多态性的基因型和等位基因频率分布上无差异。
VEGF - 460C多态性与女性患者翼状胬肉的形成有关。携带C等位基因的女性在年轻时患翼状胬肉的风险增加。
