A common polymorphism in NR1H2 (LXRbeta) is associated with preeclampsia.
BACKGROUND
Preeclampsia is a frequent complication of pregnancy and a leading cause of perinatal mortality. Both genetic and environmental risk factors have been identified. Lipid metabolism, particularly cholesterol metabolism, is associated with this disease. Liver X receptors alpha (NR1H3, also known as LXRalpha) and beta (NR1H2, also known as LXRbeta) play a key role in lipid metabolism. They belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily and are activated by cholesterol derivatives. They have been implicated in preeclampsia because they modulate trophoblast invasion and regulate the expression of the endoglin (CD105) gene, a marker of preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between the NR1H3 and NR1H2 genes and preeclampsia.


METHODS
We assessed associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms of NR1H3 (rs2279238 and rs7120118) and NR1H2 (rs35463555 and rs2695121) and the disease in 155 individuals with preeclampsia and 305 controls. Genotypes were determined by high-resolution melting analysis. We then used a logistic regression model to analyze the different alleles and genotypes for those polymorphisms as a function of case/control status.


RESULTS
We found no association between NR1H3 SNPs and the disease, but the NR1H2 polymorphism rs2695121 was found to be strongly associated with preeclampsia (genotype C/C: adjusted odds ratio, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.04-4.05; p = 0.039 and genotype T/C: adjusted odds ratio, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.01-3.42; p = 0.049).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides the first evidence of an association between the NR1H2 gene and preeclampsia, adding to our understanding of the links between cholesterol metabolism and this disease.
Department of Biochemistry, Nimes University Hospital, France. kevin.mouzat@chu-nimes.fr
Kevin
K
Mouzat
Eric
E
Mercier
Anne
A
Polge
Alexandre
A
Evrard
Silvère
S
Baron
Jean-Pierre
JP
Balducchi
Jean-Paul
JP
Brouillet
Serge
S
Lumbroso
Jean-Christophe
JC
Gris
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
D000071518:Liver X Receptors; C000605210:NR1H2 protein, human; C000605213:NR1H3 protein, human; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors