PP008. Placental klotho gene in preeclampsia

An aging-suppressor gene, klotho, is a candidate factor for vascular disease because its deficiency leads to impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation and impaired angiogenesis. This protein is involved in several metabolic pathways such as the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), apoptosis, angiotensin-II-induced events in the kidney and oxidative stress.

The aim of this study was to determine the difference of klotho genotiping and expression in the placentas of women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.

Placental tissue was collected from normal pregnancies (n=12) and pregnancies complicated by Preeclampsia (n=12), matched for gestational age. Klotho genotyping and expression was determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot, respectively.

A polymorphism for -744 G/A mutation was significantly more common in the pathological group, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.00 (1.02-8.81; 95% CI). The expression levels of both klotho isoforms and of the short klotho isoform were lower (80%) in the Preeclampsia group as compared to matched controls. Results of Western Blot agreed with those from Real-Time PCR.

In preeclamptic pregnancies there are a genotyping polymorphism and a reduced expression of klotho gene. Given its role in cardiovascular disease in aging, it may link preeclamptic mothers and their offsprings to long term cardiovascular outcomes.