Contribution of interferon-gamma receptor 1 gene polymorphisms to pre-eclampsia in China.

PROBLEM

As gene polymorphisms of cytokines receptors have been found to significantly influence cell responses to cytokines, the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that IFN-gamma receptor 1 (IFNGR1) gene polymorphisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.

METHOD OF STUDY

One hundred and sixty-four pre-eclamptic patients (121 patients with mild pre-eclampsia and 43 patients with severe pre-eclampsia) and 171 controls were included. Polymorphisms of the IFNGR1 gene at positions -611, -270, +56 and +95 were genotyped with the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

This study showed a positive association between -56C/C genotype (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1-2.7) and pre-eclampsia. Although the genotype frequencies (except for -56C/C) of the two polymorphisms were comparable between cases and controls, higher frequency of the -611A/-56C haplotype (OR = 1.450; 95% CI = 1.070-1.966) was noticed in patients versus controls. All patients and controls were homozygous for the -270T/T and +95T/T genotypes. Specifically, the frequency of the -56C allele (OR = 1.838; 95% CI = 1.127-2.995) was higher among patients with severe pre-eclampsia.

CONCLUSION

The IFNGR1 gene polymorphisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia in our population.