Oxidative stress-related genes (EPHX1 and MnSOD) polymorphism and risk of pre-eclampsia: a meta-analysis

Previous studies have detected the association of polymorphisms in oxidative stress-related genes EPHX1 and MnSOD with pre-eclampsia (PE) risk, but the results are inconsistent among studies. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to obtain more conclusive results.

Eligible studies were retrieved in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Scopus, and CNKI. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to evaluate the relationship between EPHX1 rs1051740, EPHX1 rs2234922, MnSOD rs4880 polymorphisms, and PE susceptibility in the genetic models. The subgroup analysis was also performed.

Fourteen studies with a total of 4250 participants were included, including 1784 PE patients and 2466 healthy women. There was a statistically significant association between EPHX1 rs1051740 polymorphism and PE in Caucasians within the allele, dominant, heterozygous, and homozygous models (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.64-0.98; OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.47-0.87; OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.44-0.85; OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.42-0.97, respectively). There was a statistically significant association between EPHX1 rs2234922 polymorphism and PE in Middle Easterners within the recessive and homozygous models (OR = 3.59, 95% CI = 1.25-10.32; OR = 3.99, 95% CI = 1.38-11.49, respectively). There was no statistically significant association between MnSOD rs4880 polymorphism and PE within five genetic models. Subgroup analysis didn't reveal any association between MnSOD rs4880 polymorphism and PE in Asians, Caucasians, or Middle Easterners.

This meta-analysis shows a significant association between the EPHX1 rs1051740 and PE risk in Caucasians. Meantime, there was a statistically significant association between EPHX1 rs2234922 polymorphism and PE in Middle Easterners.