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HLA-G is highly expressed in cancer. Also, it is associated to its progression. Here, we explored the relationship between two HLA-G polymorphisms with breast cancer (BC) and tried to make a correlation with sHLA-G levels. We genotyped 104 patients with BC and 83 controls (CTRL) for HLA-G 14-bp insertion/deletion (Ins/Del) and HLA-G +3142 C>G polymorphisms. The mutations were identified with PCR and PCR–RFLP. The sHLA-G dosage was performed on plasma samples by a specific ELISA. A significant association with BC was found concerning the G allele in the +3142 C>G polymorphism ( p  = 0.0004). The G/G genotype is the protective genotype (1 % in BC patients vs. 13.1 % in CTRL, OR 0.065, 95 % CI 0.008–0.523). No statistically significant differences were observed for the 14-bp Ins/Del polymorphism between BC patients and controls frequencies. The protection by G/G genotype of +3142 C>G polymorphism is maintained in young patients (<50 years, p  = 0.0006) and in early-diagnosed BC patients (<50 years, p  = 0.0033). In addition, an association was found between the haplotypes inferred by both HLA-G polymorphisms and BC susceptibility. Indeed, the (DelG) haplotype is found as the protective haplotype against BC (OR 0.269, 95 % CI 0.081–0.895, p  = 0.023). The ELISA dosage of sHLA-G revealed increased levels in BC compared to CTRL ( p  < 0.0001). We demonstrated also that sHLA-G is closely associated with advanced stages of BC without significance. sHLA-G is increased in TNM IV and SBR III subgroups. It is also enhanced in patients with a tumor size over 20 mm and in triple-negative patients. Taken together, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, the association of HLA-G +3142 C>G polymorphism with BC susceptibility in Tunisian population. Our results revealed also a potential implication of sHLA-G in advanced stages of BC.

Background Previous studies demonstrated that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was being implicated in the airways inflammation and remodeling process in patients with asthma. Aims We explored the relationship of three polymorphisms in the VEGF gene with asthma in both case control and family studies. Methods We Genotyped a total of 210 children with asthma, 224 unrelated controls and 160 parents for the +936 C > T (rs3025039), –634 G > C (rs2010963) and –2549 –2567 del 18 of the VEGF promoter region. The Mutations were identified with polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis for the +936 C > T, and –634 G > C polymorphisms. Results Of the three polymorphisms studied, a borderline association with asthma was found for the G allele in the –634 G > C polymorphism (p = 0.059). No Statistically significant differences were observed for both +936 C > T, and –2549 –2567 del 18 polymorphisms between asthmatic patients and controls, considering either allelic or genotypic frequencies. The distribution of genotypes according to the severity status revealed a significant differences for the +936 C > T, and –2549 –2567 del 18 polymorphisms. In addition, association was found with the haplotypes inferred by the three polymorphisms and asthma susceptibility. Conclusion We suggest that VEGF Gene polymorphisms can be implicated in asthma.