Polymorphisms of FAS and FAS ligand genes in preeclamptic women.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the influence that Fas and Fas ligand gene polymorphisms might have on preeclampsia. The pathogenesis of preeclampsia is still enigmatic and several studies have proposed that it may, in part, be determined by genetic susceptibility. Therefore, the identification of a gene polymorphism associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia might well represent a useful tool in the identification of at risk pregnant women enabling the setup of preventive therapy. Apoptosis has also been implied in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and since Fas and Fas ligand are the main apoptotic pathway members, they may represent candidate genes involved in the development of preeclampsia. A polymorphism at the 670 position (A-G) in the Fas gene has been found more frequently in Hungarian women with preeclampsia.


METHODS
The study cohort was a group of 50 women with preeclampsia and 142 healthy control subjects from the general Italian population. They were studied, by RFLP analysis, to validate the role that the 670 G Fas gene polymorphism plays in preeclampsia, and to evaluate the Fas ligand IVS2nt 124 G polymorphism. The Fisher's exact test was used to compute the statistical difference between groups.


RESULTS
The presence of the 670 G Fas gene variant was observed in 42 preeclamptic patients (84%) and 96 members of the general population control group (67.6%) (p=0.029). Regarding the Fas ligand gene, the IVS2nt 124 G variant was present in 14 preeclamptic patients (28%) and in 47 of the general population control subjects (33.1%) (p=0.6).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study validated the hypothesis that the Fas 670 G variant may have an influencing role in preeclampsia.
Ciarmela
Pasquapina
P
Department of Molecular Pathology and Innovative Therapies, Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy. p.ciarmela@univpm.it
Boschi
Sonia
S
Bloise
Enrrico
E
Marozio
Luca
L
Benedetto
Chiara
C
Castellucci
Mario
M
Petraglia
Felice
F
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D044465:White People; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics*
D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D019014:fas Receptor