The article that I picked out is called VEGF-A and VEGFR1 SNPs Associate with preeclampsia in a Philippine population. The article primarily focuses on the vascular endothelial growth factor, a protein that is important for establishing a normal pregnancy, and related single nucleotide polymorphisms within the Filipino population that can be associated with preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder that can cause extreme high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is also one of the most important causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Within the Philippines, it is the leading cause of maternal mortality, with 35.2% of all maternal deaths as of 2010.

            The Vascular endothelial growth factor, for humans, is a family that consists of five related glycoproteins. Each of these glycoproteins interact with three tyrosine kinases which are VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3. VEGFR1 is founded in vascular endothelial cells as well as certain stem cells, monocytes, and macrophages. Meanwhile, VEGFR3 is only limited to lymphatic endothelial cells. Each other them play a role in the cardiovascular system and are responsible for maintaining homeostasis withing the body.

            In this article, the author is experimenting to find the association between preeclampsia and several VEGF SNPs among Filipinos. They use single nucleotide analysis to find genotypic and allelic variants within a case control study by collecting blood DNA. The proteins that were specifically looked at were VEGF-A and VEGF-C along with their receptors VEGFR1 and VEGFR3. Blood pressure was also measured through a seated position for at least five minutes and verified twice within four-hour intervals.

            Results have found that many people with preeclampsia within the Filipino population that were studied were older and had higher BMI’s than most. Results also showed that there was an association between individuals with a specific variant in VEGF-A and preeclampsia as well as the C allele with that variant had an increased risk for developing preeclampsia. Results have also found that with the T alleles being associated with maintaining a normal pregnancy and preventing preeclampsia, women who would have homozygous T would have a better chance of having a normal pregnancy compared to those with heterozygous TC.

            Despite the data listed that mentioned the genetic factors in preeclampsia. There seems to be no specific gene that links Filipinos with preeclampsia. However, due to preeclampsia having the highest cases of incidences of preeclampsia among Asians and Pacific Islanders, it is possible that there are differences in genetic predisposition. Despite it being the number one cause for maternal deaths in the Philippines.

Works Cited:

Amosco, M.D., Villar V.A.M., Nainong,J.M.A, David-Bustamante, L.M.G, Jose, P.A., Palmes-Saloma, C.P. VEGF-A and VEGFR1 SNPs associate with preeclampsia in a Philippine -population. Clin Exp Hypertens vol 1 doi:10.3109/10641963.2016.1174252, 21 (2016).

Pandey, A. K. et al. Mechanisms of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)      inhibitor–associated hypertension and vascular disease. American Heart            Association Journals (2017). Available at: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.117.10271.