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Published on: January 26, 2024
Cytokine gene polymorphisms in preeclampsia and eclampsia
Telmo H Barbosa de Lima1, Nelson Sass, Rosiane Mattar
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology-Alagoas State University, Alagoas, Brazil.
Summary
Genetic variations in cytokine genes do not appear to significantly increase the risk of preeclampsia (PE) or eclampsia (E). However, a specific interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) gene variant was more common in women with eclampsia.
Area of Science:
- Immunogenetics
- Obstetrics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Preeclampsia (PE) and eclampsia (E) are severe pregnancy complications with unknown biological drivers.
- Endothelial cell activation and altered maternal immune responses, involving cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-beta1, are implicated in PE.
- Previous studies explored cytokine gene polymorphisms in PE, but few included eclamptic patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between polymorphisms in specific cytokine and growth factor genes and the risk of preeclampsia (PE) and eclampsia (E).
- To analyze single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TNF-alpha, IL6, IFN-gamma, IL10, and TGF-beta1 genes.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping was performed on 266 Mulatto women from northeastern Brazil (92 PE, 73 E, 101 controls).
- Six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed: TNF-alpha (-308 G>A), IL6 (-174 G>C), IFN-gamma (+874 A>T), IL10 (-1082 A>G, -819 C>T, -592 C>A), and TGF-beta1 (+869 T>C, +915 G>C).
- Chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests were used to compare genotype and allelic frequencies.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in genotype frequencies were observed between PE, E, and control groups for most SNPs.
- A higher frequency of the IFN-gamma (+874 A) allele was found in eclamptic patients compared to controls (70.3% vs. 57.8%, P=0.02).
- No other significant allelic frequency differences were detected between the groups.
Conclusions:
- This study found no independent association between the investigated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of preeclampsia (PE) or eclampsia (E) in this population.
- The increased frequency of the IFN-gamma (+874 A) allele in eclamptic patients warrants further investigation.
- Genetic factors related to cytokine gene polymorphisms may not be major determinants of PE or E risk in northeastern Brazilian Mulatto women.
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