Differential placental gene expression in preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Candidate genes that are associated with preeclampsia have not been described fully. We conducted microarray and confirmatory quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction studies to investigate global placental gene expression in preeclampsia.


METHODS
RNA was extracted from placental samples that were collected from 18 preeclampsia cases and 18 normotensive control subjects. Oligonucleotide probes that represented 22,000 genes were used to measure gene expression in each sample. Differential gene expression was evaluated with the Student t test, fold change assessment, and significance analysis of microarrays. Functions and functional relationships of differentially expressed genes were evaluated.


RESULTS
Genes (n = 58) that participated in immune system, inflammation, oxidative stress, signaling, growth, and development pathways were expressed differentially in preeclampsia. These genes included previously described candidate genes (such as leptin), potential candidate genes with related functions (such as CYP11A) and novel genes (such as CDKN1C).


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of genes (both candidate and novel) with diverse functions is associated with preeclampsia risk, which reflects the complex pathogenesis.
Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. emaildenquoba@hsph.harvard.edu
Daniel A
DA
Enquobahrie
Margaret
M
Meller
Kenneth
K
Rice
Bruce M
BM
Psaty
David S
DS
Siscovick
Michelle A
MA
Williams
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis
D012313:RNA