title: Correlation between MTHFR gene methylation and pre-eclampsia, and its clinical significance.
abstract: We investigated the correlation between 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene methylation and pre-eclampsia, and its clinical significance, by comparing methylation in the MTHFR gene promoter of the placenta and peripheral venous blood in pre-eclampsia and normal gravidas. We enrolled 259 gravidas from the People's Liberation Army 202nd Hospital, China, between January 2011 and September 2011, including 127 pre-eclampsia and 132 nor-mal gravidas. Methylation levels of the MTHFR gene in placentas in two sets of gravidas were detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, plasma homocysteine levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and folic acid and vitamin B12 levels were detected by electrochemiluminescence. The chi-square test results were analyzed using the SPSS19.0 statistical software. In placentas, the methylation indices were 26.8% (34/127) and 15.2% (20/132) in the pre-eclampsia and normal groups, respectively (χ(2) = 5.30, P < 0.05, odds ratio (OR) = 2.04, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.10-3.73). In peripheral venous blood, the methylation indices were 22.8% (29/127) and 12.1% (16/132) in pre-eclampsia and normal groups, respectively (χ(2) = 5.17, P < 0.05, OR = 2.15, 95%CI = 1.11-4.15). The plasma methylation level of the pre-eclampsia group was consistent with the normal group. The plasma homocysteine level in the pre-eclampsia group was higher than in the normal group (P < 0.05). Levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 in the pre-eclampsia and normal groups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Patients with pre-eclampsia have hypermethylation in the MTHFR gene promoter, which may be one of its causes.
authors.affiliation: General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.affiliation: General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Z F
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: X Q
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; C573423:MTHFR protein, human; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12