Association of IL-35 Subunits, IL-12A rs568408 and EBI3 rs4740, Gene Polymorphisms With Preeclampsia Risk

Area of Science:

• Immunogenetics
• Reproductive Medicine
• Human Genetics

Background:

• Preeclampsia (PE) is a significant pregnancy complication with severe maternal and fetal health consequences.
• Emerging evidence highlights the crucial role of immunological factors in the pathogenesis of PE.
• Understanding the genetic underpinnings of PE is vital for improving risk assessment and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between genetic variations in Interleukin-35 (IL-35) components, specifically IL-12A (rs568408) and EBI3 (rs4740) polymorphisms, and the susceptibility to PE.
• To analyze these associations in an Iranian population.
• To identify potential genetic markers for PE risk stratification.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 470 participants was conducted.
• Genotyping of IL-12A (rs568408) and EBI3 (rs4740) polymorphisms was performed using the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.
• Statistical analysis was employed to determine the odds ratios (OR) and p-values for genotype and allele associations with PE risk.

Main Results:

• The IL-12A rs568408 AA genotype was significantly associated with increased PE susceptibility (OR = 3.350, p = 0.007), especially in severe PE cases (OR = 5.048, p < 0.001).
• The EBI3 rs4740 AA genotype demonstrated a protective effect against PE (OR = 0.495, p = 0.036), particularly in severe cases (OR = 0.409, p = 0.037).
• Combined analysis revealed that IL-12A AA/EBI3 GA genotypes conferred the highest risk for severe, early-onset PE (OR = 5.280, p = 0.046).

Conclusions:

• Genetic variations in IL-35 components, IL-12A and EBI3, are significantly associated with PE susceptibility in the studied population.
• Specific genotypes of IL-12A and EBI3 polymorphisms may serve as valuable genetic markers for predicting PE risk.
• Further research can explore these genetic markers for enhanced clinical risk assessment of preeclampsia.