Cloning and Evaluation of the Funtional Significance of a Novel SNP in Human VEGF promoter

Abstract

The maintenance of gastric mucosal function and integrity highly depends on the status of microcirculation. So, angiogenesis, formation of new capillary blood vessels, is crucial for gastroduodenal ulcer healing because it enables delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the healing site. Because angiogenesis is stimulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), we studied whether the altered expression of VEGF might be the one of key factors of gastric ulceration and the delayed healing process. As the result, a novel SNP was identified at the VEGF promoter region of Korean patients suffering from gastric ulcer. To study the functional significance of VEGF promoter SNP, wild type of VEGF promoter region was cloned and its mutant type was generated by site-directed mutagenesis. Comparison between the wild type and the mutant type of VEGF promoter was done by Firefly luciferase assay. The VEGF promoter activity was significantly decreased in the mutant type of VEGF promoter with the novel SNP in comparison with the wild type VEGF promoter activity from KATO III and AGS cell. In conclusion, the novel SNP of VEGF promoter region from Koreans might be the preventive marker of the possible gastric ulceration of Korean.