Association between polymorphisms in CXCR2 gene and preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy-specific syndrome with incompletely understood pathogenesis. Previous study has demonstrated that the decreased CXCR2 in preeclamptic placentas may contribute to the development of preeclampsia. The role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CXCR2 gene in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia remains largely unexplored. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between polymorphisms of CXCR2 gene and preeclampsia in Han Chinese women.

Totally 481 pregnant women, including 243 controls and 238 patients with preeclampsia were recruited. The rs1126579 and rs2230054 polymorphisms in CXCR2 gene were tested using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

Significantly increased risk of preeclampsia was observed in the rs1126579 CC or TC/CC genotypes when compared with TT genotype (CC vs. TT: odss ratio [OR] = 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-3.76, p = 0.039; TC/CC vs. TT: OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.29-2.78, p = 0.001). Markedly higher risk of preeclampsia was found to be associated with rs1126579 TC genotype (TC vs. TT/CC: OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.04-2.12, p = 0.031). After stratification analysis, the different distribution of TC/CC genotypes was particularly significant in the severe preeclampsia group (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.42-3.24, p < 0.01), the early-onset severe preeclampsia group (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.14-3.42, p = 0.013), and the late-onset severe preeclampsia group (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.39-3.78, p < 0.01). Besides, TC genotype carriers had a 1.55 fold increased risk of severe preeclampsia (95% CI = 1.06-2.27, p = 0.022) and a 1.80 fold increased risk of late onset severe preeclampsia (95% CI = 1.14-2.83, p = 0.01) than those of TT/CC genotype carriers.

Our study suggests a genetic association between rs1126579 polymorphism in CXCR2 gene and increased risk of preeclampsia. These data provide a new clue for future investigation.