DNA sequencing identifies mutation of the von Hippel-Lindau gene in tubal pregnancy.

Genetic mutations in the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene are common in certain diseases. The effects on the VHL gene in the tubal pregnancy tissues are unknown but with further study, it was found that the VHL gene may be related to prognosis or therapy selection. This study was conducted to analyse the VHL gene in tissues of human fallopian tube and tubal pregnancy. A total of 35 patients undergoing salpingectomy for tubal pregnancy were recruited into the experimental group. Samples of ampullary fallopian tube during mid-secretory phase were collected from 10 patients with benign uterine disease as the control group. Fluorescent dye dideoxy termination method was performed to detect three exons sequences of the VHL gene in tissues of both the human fallopian tube and tubal pregnancy. The DNA sequences of three exons of VHL gene coding region in tubal pregnancy were not found in mutations. The present study suggested that the VHL gene mutations were not related with tubal pregnancy.