Quantitative aberrations of hypermethylated RASSF1A gene sequences in maternal plasma in pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To study if quantitative aberrations in circulating placental-derived hypermethylated RASSF1A DNA in maternal plasma are associated with pre-eclamptic pregnancies.


METHODS
Maternal plasma and placental tissues from third-trimester pre-eclamptic women and gestational-age matched normotensive controls were studied. Real-time PCR was performed to quantify RASSF1A concentrations before and after methylation-sensitive restriction digestion in a duplex assay, where ss-actin concentrations were quantified as an internal control to confirm complete enzyme digestion.


RESULTS
The median concentrations of hypermethylated RASSF1A were 4.3-fold higher in maternal plasma of pre-eclamptic subjects than in controls. There was no significant difference between the extent of RASSF1A hypermethylation in placental tissues obtained from pre-eclamptic and control pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated the potential utility of hypermethylated RASSF1A sequences in maternal plasma as a gender- and polymorphism-independent marker for pre-eclampsia.
Tsui
Dana W Y
DW
Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR.
Chan
K C Allen
KC
Chim
Stephen S C
SS
Chan
Lin-Wai
LW
Leung
Tak-Yeung
TY
Lau
Tze-Kin
TK
Lo
Y M Dennis
YM
Chiu
Rossa W K
RW
D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
D015415:Biomarkers; C411762:RASSF1 protein, human; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins