Association Between Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) −786 T/C and 27-bp VNTR 4b/a Polymorphisms and Preeclampsia Development

The aim of the present study was to analyze the distribution of genotypes and haplotypes of functional eNOS gene polymorphisms in the promoter (−786 T/C), intron 4 (VNTR4b/a) and exon 7 (894 G/T), in Serbian population of pregnant women, and establish a possible association between these polymorphisms and preeclampsia development. DNA was isolated from venous blood samples of 50 heathy pregnant women and 50 preeclampsia patients. Polymerase Chain Reaction/Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) technique, with appropriate sets of primers and specific restriction enzymes, was used to determine polymorphisms in eNOS gene. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS and HAPLOVIEW software packages. eNOS −786 T/C polymorphism was significantly associated with preeclampsia ( P = 0.006). Homozygotes for the VNTR polymorphism had also an elevated risk of developing preeclampsia (OR=7.68, 95%CI (0.89–65.98)), especially the mild (OR=9.33, 95%CI (0.98–88.57)) and late form (OR=8.52, 95%CI (0.90–80.58)). The 894 G/T polymorphism was not associated with preeclampsia. “G-C-b” and “T-4a-T” haplotypes were more frequent in preeclampsia, though without reaching statistical significance. −786 T/C and VNTR 4b/a eNOS gene polymorphisms were associated with preeclampsia risk in Serbian patients.