Association of microsomal epoxide hydrolase gene polymorphism and pre-eclampsia in Turkish women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between human epoxide hydrolase exon 3 and 4 polymorphisms and pre-eclampsia by carrying out a case-control study in Turkish women.


METHODS
DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, and genotype distribution of exon 3 and exon 4 of epoxide hydrolase gene (EPHX) was carried out in 271 patients and 155 controls.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of genotypes between pre-eclampsia without HELLP and pre-eclampsia plus HELLP cases and controls for the exon 3 and 4 polymorphism of EPHX. However, we found a significant association between the predicted enzyme activity level and pre-eclampsia (P = 0.018). The distribution of subjects with predicted high, intermediate and low microsomal epoxide hydrolase enzyme (EPHX) activity were 23.2, 38.8 and 38% in cases and 12, 47.3 and 40.7% in controls, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Although we could not find any association between genetic variability in exon 3 and 4 of EPHX and pre-eclampsia, genetic variability in these two exons jointly modifies the predicted enzyme activity and may be a risk factor for pre-eclampsia.
Pinarbasi
Ergun
E
Department of Medical Biology, Cumhuriyet University, School of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey. epinar@cumhuriyet.edu.tr
Percin
Ferda E
FE
Yilmaz
Meral
M
Akgun
Egemen
E
Cetin
Meral
M
Cetin
Ali
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014421:Turkey
D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases