Relation of rs846910, rs4844880 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD11B1) polymorphisms with the risk of preeclampsia: A case-control study

Background

The 11β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) enzyme catalyzes the interconversion of cortisone and cortisol, with mainly oxoreductive activity in intact cells due to co-expression with hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PD). The uterine localization of 11β-HSD1 and its reduced placental expression in women with preeclampsia (PE) suggest a role for 11β-HSD1 in PE pathogenesis. We investigated the association of rs4844880 and rs846910 variants in the HSD11B1 gene with PE in Tunisian women.

Methods

The study cases comprised 334 women who presented with PE and 314 age-matched normotensive women who served as controls. The rs4844880 and rs846910 HSD11B1 gene variants were genotyped by real-time PCR.

Results

The rs4844880 T > A and rs846910 G > A minor allele frequencies were not different between PE cases and control women, which persisted after adjusting for age, BMI, gestational age, premature delivery, and baby weight. An association was noted for rs4844880 A/A genotype with a heightened risk of PE, which persisted after controlling key covariates. The (minor) A allele of rs4844880 was linked with elevated serum ALT and higher serum AST. In contrast, carriage of the rs846910 minor (A) allele was connected with higher baby weight on delivery and serum AST levels. Setting the major allele homozygotes (T-G) as a reference, a higher prevalence of double minor allele (A-A) haplotype was seen in PE cases than in corresponding controls, which persisted after controlling for age and BMI. Controlling for gestational age and baby weight identified the T-A haplotype and confirmed the association of the A-A haplotype with a heightened risk of PE.

Conclusion

Our results support an association between HSD11B1 polymorphisms and increased risk of PE and PE-associated clinical features.