title: Leptin gene (TTTC)(n) microsatellite polymorphism in pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leptin plays an important role in energy homeostasis. There is polymorphism on the leptin (LEP) gene. Our aim was to compare the tetranucleotide repeat (TTTC)(n) polymorphism in the 3'-flanking region in the LEP gene on DNA samples from patients with pre-eclampsia (PE), hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome and healthy pregnant controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from healthy pregnant women (n=88), patients with PE (n=79) and HELLP (n=77) syndrome. Fluorescent PCR and DNA fragment analysis was performed from the isolated DNA for the detection of (TTTC) repeats. The electrophoretograms were evaluated and patients were assigned to two groups; class I low (<190 bp) or class II high (> or =190 bp) PCR fragments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed similar distributions of the class I and class II (TTTC) alleles in the groups studied (class I allele: healthy pregnant 58.5%; severe pre-eclamptic 58.3%; HELLP syndrome 52.6%). We detected a higher frequency of the II/II genotype in HELLP syndrome patients (32.4%) compared to healthy controls (22.7%). However, the difference was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In an ethnically homogenous population, the LEP gene (TTTC) microsatellite polymorphism in the 3'-flanking region does not show a significant difference in the allele and genotype distribution in healthy pregnant, pre-eclamptic and HELLP syndrome patients. Furthermore, we recommend a new classification of the class I and class II alleles based on the distribution of the (TTTC) microsatellites.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. nabal@noi1.sote.hu
authors.forename: Balint
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varkonyi
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molvarec
authors.forename: Levente
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lazar
authors.forename: Petronella
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hupuczi
authors.forename: Nandor Gabor
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Than
authors.forename: Janos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rigo
mesh_terms: D024509:3' Flanking Region; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin