Quantitative analysis of cellular fetal hemoglobin gamma chain messenger RNA (HbF-gamma mRNA) in maternal peripheral blood.

OBJECTIVE

Fetal cells cross the feto-maternal barrier and circulate in maternal peripheral blood; thus, this study aimed to show the relationship between clinical evidence in pregnancy and qualitative feto-maternal barrier changes.

METHODS

The expression of fetal hemoglobin gamma chain messenger RNA (HbF-gamma mRNA) was measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in maternal peripheral blood.

RESULTS

HbF-gamma mRNA was detected in all pregnant women after 5 weeks of gestation. In normal pregnancy, there were two peaks at 10 and 40 weeks, and a significant increase 4 weeks prior to the onset of labor. In intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm delivery and placenta previa, the HbF-gamma mRNA expression was significantly higher than in normal pregnancies.

CONCLUSION

The expression of HbF-gamma mRNA relative to that of beta-actin mRNA is thought to reflect the real-time leakage of fetal cells into maternal blood.