Links identified between preeclampsia and babies' genetic makeup in new research study.
Title: New Discoveries Link Preeclampsia to Babies' DNA and Blood Vessel Development
Kick off: In a groundbreaking international genetic study of over a hundred thousand kiddos, researchers have stumbled upon DNA links to preeclampsia, a potentially harmful pregnancy condition. Here's the inside scoop on this fascinating find!
First, let's dive into preeclampsia basics: This condition, which affects about 5 percent of pregnancies and is a leading cause of pregnancy- and birth-related deaths, is characterized by a sudden rise in a pregnant woman's blood pressure during the 20th week, increased protein in her urine, and swollen hands and face. It can also lead to severe medical complications for both mom and baby.
To clarify the genetics behind preeclampsia, Dr. Linda Morgan from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom led a team of scientists who conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS). GWAS is a rapid method used to scan the genomes of large groups of people to find variations in the genetic code related to specific diseases. These researchers adopted a unique angle by analyzing DNA samples from the offspring of women who developed preeclampsia.
In the past, scientists struggled to uncover preeclampsia links due to the condition's development during placenta formation. However, the adoption of GWAS enables exploration of clues in the DNA of the mother, father, and their baby. Indeed, previous preeclampsia GWAS analyses focused solely on the mothers' DNA.
The researchers ran their GWAS analysis at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, U.K., and deCODE Genetics in Reykjavik, Iceland, and discovered two previously unknown DNA variants significantly linked to preeclampsia. These variants are common, with an occurrence rate of about half the population, and they don't cause preeclampsia alone but only raise the risk of developing it.
The new variants are close to the FLT1 gene, which codes for a cell-surface receptor known to be involved in blood vessel creation. It's worth noting that one form of FLT1 has been connected to preeclampsia before, with high levels of the associated protein leading to damage to blood vessels upon entering a pregnant woman's bloodstream.
As next steps, the team is analyzing the genomes of another 4,220 babies in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan who were born to preeclamptic women to confirm whether they have the same DNA variants.
Now, let's briefly discuss some relevant genetic and molecular aspects of preeclampsia that may influence blood vessel development.
- ACVR2A Gene: Research suggests that the ACVR2A gene, a part of the activin signaling pathway, plays a crucial part in trophoblast cell functions essential for placental development and function. Any alterations in the ACVR2A gene may result in impaired placental vascular development by inhibiting trophoblast invasion and function.
- Other Genetic Factors: Numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in preeclampsia have been linked to specific genes, such as FLT1, which could affect the regulation of angiogenic factors essential for vascular development. For instance, an imbalance between pro-angiogenic factors like VEGF and anti-angiogenic factors like sFlt-1 can lead to impaired vascular development in the placenta.
The newly discovered DNA variants linked to preeclampsia and their effect on blood vessel development are expected to form the basis for more effective prevention and treatment strategies in the future, resulting in a healthier pregnancy for both mother and child.
[1] ACVR2A gene and preeclampsia: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3914252/[4] Preeclampsia-associated genomic loci and maternal – feto-placental interactions: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5864993/
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