Microarray analysis of differentially expressed genes in placental tissue of pre-eclampsia: up-regulation of obesity-related genes.
Susceptibility genes present in both mother and fetus most likely contribute to the risk of pre-eclampsia. Placental biopsies were therefore investigated by high-density DNA microarray analysis to determine genes differentially regulated within chorionic villous tissue in pre-eclampsia and normal pregnancy. The pooled RNAs of pre-eclamptic and normotensive subjects were hybridized to the HuGeneFL array representing sequences from approximately 5600 full-length human cDNAs. The differentially expressed genes that were detected could be categorized into nine groups: adhesion molecules, obesity-related genes, transcription factors/signalling molecules, immunological factors, neuromediators, oncogenic factors, protease inhibitors, hormones and growth factor-binding proteins. Among those, the obesity-related genes included putative candidate genes associated with the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. One of the most up-regulated transcripts was the obese gene (43.6-fold change), and this was reflected by elevated leptin protein levels. In the case of feto-maternal contribution of polymorphic genes to pre-eclampsia, expression analysis of placental tissue has lead to numerous target genes waiting for large scale genetic linkage analyses.
Reimer
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Institute of Immunology, University of Rostock, Germany. toralf.reimer@med.uni-rostock.de
Koczan
D
D
Gerber
B
B
Richter
D
D
Thiesen
H J
HJ
Friese
K
K
D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015854:Up-Regulation
D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; D020738:Leptin