Development a method to predict preeclampsia using maternal plasma DNA/RNA

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09609
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Showa University
• Principal Investigator: Koide Keiko 昭和大学, 医学部, 講師 (90384437)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 関沢 明彦 昭和大学, 医学部, 教授 (10245839) ; 川嶋 章弘 昭和大学, 医学部, 講師 (10783376)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 妊娠高血圧腎症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to develop a prediction method for the development of preeclampsia(PE) at 11-13 weeks gestation. We extracted DNA from surplus villus tissue collected as chorionic villus sampling and attemped to reveal genes that differ in the methylation status of placental DNA between normal pregnancies and cases that later develop PE. We identified 841 genes whose promoter regions were hypermethylated in early trophoblasts that later developed PE. Gene ontology analysis of these genes revealed that they were associated with cellular stress response, cell differentiation, and immune system development. The results indicate that pregnant women who later develop PE may have decreased expression of genes associated with cellular stress response, cell differentiation, and immune system development in trophoblastic cells at 11-13 weeks gestation.

Free Research Field

産婦人科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

遺伝子オントロジー解析の結果をみると、本研究により抽出された遺伝子群は妊娠高血圧腎症の病態形成に関与している可能性があり、妊娠高血圧腎症の発症予知への活用の可能性のある分子マーカー候補を抽出できたと考える。
妊娠高血圧腎症は母児に対して重大な影響を及ぼす妊娠合併症の一つである。本研究成果は、周産期医学における課題の一つである「妊娠高血圧腎症の克服」に寄与すると考える。