Objective@#To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of
upstream regulatory region (URR) in
human leukocyte antigen-G (
HLA-G)
gene and the pathogenesis of severe
preeclampsia.@*
Methods@#Thirty-nine gravidas with severe
preeclampsia,
who were admitted to the Third Affiliated
Hospital of Zhengzhou
University from October 2008 to March 2009, were enrolled as the case group. Another 43 healthy gravidas at the
third trimester were chosen as the
control group. All gravidas in both groups were Han
nationality. URR polymorphism in
HLA-G gene was detected by
PCR sequencing.
Allele frequencies and
genotype frequencies of all
single nucleotide polymorphisms (
SNPs) were compared between the two groups.@*Results@#(1) Eight
SNPs were detected between -1179 and -689 in
HLA-G gene URR in
Chinese Han
pregnant women. (2) In the severe
preeclampsia group, the
genotype frequency of -964GG was 12.8% (5/39), which was significantly lower than the frequency of 37.2% (16/43) found in the
control group (P=0.012). The
allele frequency of -964G was also significantly lower in the severe
preeclampsia group than in the
control group [38.5% (30/78) vs 57.0% (49/86), P=0.018). (3) In the severe
preeclampsia group, the
genotype frequency of -716TT was 17.9% (7/39), which was significantly lower than the frequency of 41.9% (18/43) found in the
control group (P=0.019). In the severe
preeclampsia group, the
allele frequency of -716T was 39.7% (31/78), which was also significantly lower than the frequency of 60.5% (52/86) found in the
control group (P=0.008). (4) No significant differences were found in the
allele or
genotype frequencies of -1140A/T, -762C/T or -725C/G in
HLA-G gene URR between the two groups (P>0.05).@*Conclusion@#Some of the
SNPs in
HLA-G gene URR are associated with the susceptibility of severe
preeclampsia in
Chinese Han gravidas.
Pregnant women carrying -964G or -716T may have reduced
risk of severe
preeclampsia.