Role of HIF1A, VEGFA and VEGFR2 SNPs in the susceptibility and progression of COPD in a Spanish Population

Abstract

Hypoxia is involved in the development of chronic inflammatory processes. Under hypoxic conditions HIF1A, VEGF and VEGFR2areexpressedandmediatethecourseofthe resultant disease. The aim of the present study was to define the associations between tSNPs in these genes and COPDsusceptibility and progression in a Spanish cohort. The T alleles in rs3025020 and rs833070 SNPs(VEGFAgene)werelessfrequent inthe group ofCOPD cases andwereassociated with a lower risk of developing the disease (OR = 0.60; 95% CI =0.39–0.93; p =0.023andOR=0.60;95%CI=0.38–0.96;p=0.034,respectively) under a dominant modelof inheritance. The haplotype in which both SNPs presented the T allele confirmed the association found (OR = 0.02; 95% CI = 0.00 to 0.66; p = 0.03). Moreover, patients with COPD carrying the T allele in homozygosis in rs3025020 SNP showed higher lung function values and this association remained constant during 3 years of followup. In conclusion, T allele in rs833070 and rs3025020 may confer a protective effect to COPDsusceptibility in a Spanish population and the association of the SNP rs3025020 with lung function may be suggesting a role for VEGF in the progression of the disease.