title: Minimal alteration in the ratio of circulatory fetal DNA to fetal corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNA level in preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have recently observed that fetal DNA and fetal corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA are associated with in vitro generated syncytiotrophoblast-derived microparticles, and that the ratio of fetal DNA to mRNA (CRH) varied according to whether the particles were derived by predominantly apoptotic, apo-necrotic or necrotic pathways. Hence, we examined whether these ratios varied in maternal plasma samples taken from normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maternal plasma samples were collected from 18 cases with preeclampsia and 29 normotensive term controls. Circulatory fetal CRH mRNA and DNA levels were quantified by real-time PCR and RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulatory fetal mRNA and fetal DNA levels were significantly elevated in the preeclampsia study group when compared to normotensive controls. Alterations in the fetal mRNA to DNA ratio between the study and control groups were minimal, even when stratified into early (<34 weeks of gestation) and late (>34 weeks of gestation) onset preeclampsia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that although circulatory fetal DNA and mRNA levels are significantly elevated in preeclampsia, the ratios in maternal plasma are not dramatically altered.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Prenatal Medicine/Department of Research, University Women's Hospital, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Xiao Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Holzgreve
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gebhardt
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hillermann
authors.forename: Kashefa Carelse
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Tofa
authors.forename: Anurag Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huppertz
authors.forename: Sinuhe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone