A transcriptional profile of the decidua in preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to obtain insight into possible mechanisms underlying preeclampsia using genomewide transcriptional profiling in decidua basalis. STUDY DESIGN: Genomewide transcriptional profiling was performed on decidua basalis tissue from preeclamptic (n = 37) and normal (n = 58) pregnancies. Differentially expressed genes were identified and merged into canonical pathways and networks. RESULTS: Of the 26,504 expressed transcripts detected, 455 were differentially expressed (P < .05; false discovery rate, P < .1). Both novel (ARL5B, SLITRK4) and previously reported preeclampsia-associated (PLA2G7, HMOX1) genes were identified. Pathway analysis revealed that tryptophan metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum stress, linoleic acid metabolism, notch signaling, fatty acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and NRF2-mediated oxidative stress response were overrepresented canonical pathways. CONCLUSION: In the present study single genes, canonical pathways, and gene-gene networks that are likely to play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia have been identified. Future functional studies are needed to accomplish a greater understanding of the mechanisms involved.

Differential gene expression at the maternal-fetal interface in preeclampsia is influenced by gestational age.

Genome-wide transcription data of utero-placental tissue has been used to identify altered gene expression associated with preeclampsia (PE). As many women with PE deliver preterm, there is often a difference in gestational age between PE women and healthy pregnant controls. This may pose a potential bias since gestational age has been shown to dramatically influence gene expression in utero-placental tissue. By pooling data from three genome-wide transcription studies of the maternal-fetal interface, we have evaluated the relative effect of gestational age and PE on gene expression. A total of 18,180 transcripts were evaluated in 49 PE cases and 105 controls, with gestational age ranging from week 14 to 42. A total of 22 transcripts were associated with PE, whereas 92 transcripts with gestational age (nominal P value <1.51*10(-6), Bonferroni adjusted P value <0.05). Our results indicate that gestational age has a great influence on gene expression both in normal and PE-complicated pregnancies. This effect might introduce serious bias in data analyses and needs to be carefully assessed in future genome-wide transcription studies.