Genetic predisposition to idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion: contribution of genetic variations in IGF-2 and H19 imprinted genes.
OBJECTIVE
Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is a common clinical problem with a complex etiology of genetic and non-genetic causes, which remains to be fully determined. IGF-2 stimulates trophoblast invasion, proliferation and maturation of placenta, while H19 RNA suppresses growth. As genomic imprinting plays a critical role in the development of placenta and embryo, our aim was to evaluate the possible role of variations in IGF-2 and H19 imprinted genes as factors of predisposition for RSA.


METHODS
A case-control study was conducted to determine the association between IGF-2 and H19 gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to RSA in 113 couples with RSA and 226 controls. PCR/RFLP were performed to analyze IGF-2 ApaI and H19 HhaI polymorphisms.


RESULTS
We found a statistically significant difference in the genotype frequency distribution of IGF-2 ApaI polymorphism between males from couples with RSA and healthy males (chi2(2) = 45.12; P < 0.0001). There were no differences in the genotype and allele distribution of H19 polymorphism frequencies, or for the IGF-2 ApaI polymorphism between female groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of IGF-2 ApaI polymorphism in partners of RSA women could affect IGF-2 level of expression in placenta and embryo and represent a risk factor for RSA susceptibility.
Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Brace Branchetta 20, Rijeka, Croatia. sasa@medri.hr
Sasa
S
Ostojić
Nina
N
Pereza
Marija
M
Volk
Miljenko
M
Kapović
Borut
B
Peterlin
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000235:genetics*; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics*
C094335:H19 long non-coding RNA; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II