Leptin gene (TTTC)(n) microsatellite polymorphism in pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome.

BACKGROUND

Leptin plays an important role in energy homeostasis. There is polymorphism on the leptin (LEP) gene. Our aim was to compare the tetranucleotide repeat (TTTC)(n) polymorphism in the 3'-flanking region in the LEP gene on DNA samples from patients with pre-eclampsia (PE), hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome and healthy pregnant controls.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from healthy pregnant women (n=88), patients with PE (n=79) and HELLP (n=77) syndrome. Fluorescent PCR and DNA fragment analysis was performed from the isolated DNA for the detection of (TTTC) repeats. The electrophoretograms were evaluated and patients were assigned to two groups; class I low (<190 bp) or class II high (> or =190 bp) PCR fragments.

RESULTS

We observed similar distributions of the class I and class II (TTTC) alleles in the groups studied (class I allele: healthy pregnant 58.5%; severe pre-eclamptic 58.3%; HELLP syndrome 52.6%). We detected a higher frequency of the II/II genotype in HELLP syndrome patients (32.4%) compared to healthy controls (22.7%). However, the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

In an ethnically homogenous population, the LEP gene (TTTC) microsatellite polymorphism in the 3'-flanking region does not show a significant difference in the allele and genotype distribution in healthy pregnant, pre-eclamptic and HELLP syndrome patients. Furthermore, we recommend a new classification of the class I and class II alleles based on the distribution of the (TTTC) microsatellites.