Introduction: This study is to elucidate the relationship between a 936C/T mutation at the 3’-untranslated region of the human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).
Material and methods: All subjects recruited in this study were divided into DM (diabetes without neuropathy, retinopathy or nephropathy), DPN (diabetes with peripheral neuropathy only) and healthy control groups. The gene polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, as well as other clinical methods including serum VEGF by ELISA.
Results: The C allele frequency and CC genotype frequency in the DPN group were higher than those in the NC group and DM group. The T allele frequency and CT+TT genotype (carrying the T allele) frequency in the DPN group were lower than those in the NC group (χ² = 19.051 and 18.533, both p < 0.001) and DM group (χ² = 11.117 and 11.156, both p = 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the three genotype (CC/CT+TT) frequencies and allele (C/T) frequencies between the DM group and the NC group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and plasma VEGF positively correlated with DPN, while the 936C/T gene polymorphism of VEGF negatively correlated with DPN.
Conclusions: Allele 936C of VEGF may serve as a genetic marker susceptible to DPN, while allele 936T may be a protective genetic marker of DPN.