The polymorphisms of growth factor genes (VEGFA & EGF) were associated with response to acitretin in psoriasis

Abstract

Aim: VEGF and EGF are assumed to be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, while the impacts of their polymorphisms on psoriasis are inconsistent. Therefore, we hope to clarify these relationships in the Chinese Han population.

Methods: A total of 131 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 176 controls were enrolled. The polymorphisms rs833061 (T > C), rs10434 (G > A) in VEGFA, and rs4444903 (G > A), rs2237051 (A > G) in EGF of each participant were detected. The patients were treated with calcipotriol plus acitretin 30 mg/day for 8 weeks.

Results: No SNPs of rs833061, rs10434, rs4444903 and rs2237051 were found to be associated with psoriasis susceptibility and efficacy. Although the mutation of rs10434A was associated with baseline disease severity (p = 0.026), and rs2237051G allele was associated with increased erythema during treatment (p = 0.015).

Conclusion: The allele of rs2237051 G increased the erythema during the treatment, and no polymorphism of VEGF and EGF gene was found to be associated with the susceptibility and efficacy in psoriasis.

Keywords: EGF; SNP; VEGF; acitretin; calcipotriol; genotype; mutation; pharmacogenetics; polymorphisms; psoriasis.