Transforming growth factor beta 1 related gene polymorphisms in gestational hypertension and preeclampsia: A case-control candidate gene association study

Objectives: To investigate the association between transforming growth factor beta 1 related gene polymorphisms and the occurrence of pregnancy induced hypertension, including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Study design: This is a case control candidate gene association study. A total of 130 patients with preeclampsia, 67 with gestational hypertension, and 316 controls were recruited. Eleven candidate SNPs of were examined, including four TGF beta 1 SNPs (rs1800469, rs4803455, rs4803457, and rs8179181), one TGF beta R1 SNP (rs10739778), four TGF beta R2 SNPs (rs1346907, rs3087465, rs6550005, and rs877572), and two ENG SNPs (rs10121110 and rs11792480). Main outcome measures: Logistic regression was used to estimate the OR and the 95% CI under different genetic models. Chi-square test was used to determine whether haplotype frequency distributions differed between the case and control groups and logistic regression was used to estimate ORs. To explore the associations between SNPs and blood pressure, SBP/DBP in different genotype groups in healthy women were compared by Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: We did not find significant association between investigated SNPs and pregnancy induced hypertension. The C-T-A-G haplotype of four TGF beta R2 SNPs (rs877572, rs1346907, rs3087465, and rs6550005) was significantly associated with preeclampsia (OR= 4.71, 95% CI: 1.944, 11.409) and gestational hypertension (OR= 3.157, 95% CI: 1.003, 9.938). The AA genotype of TGF beta R1 rs10739778 was found to be associated with higher blood pressure in healthy women (p <=. 008). Conclusions: Polymorphisms in TGF beta R2 might participate in the pathologic process of pregnancy induced hypertension, and TGF beta R1 rs10739778 was associated with blood pressure in our healthy participants.