MTHFR and F5 genetic variations have association with preeclampsia in Pakistani patients: a case control study

Background: To study the role of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) of genes related to preeclampsia in Pakistani pregnant women. Methods: After ethical approval and getting informed consent; 250 pregnant women were enrolled and equally divided into two groups (125 preeclamptic cases and 125 normotensive pregnant women). Demographic details and medical history were recorded, and 10 ml blood sample was obtained for DNA extraction. The tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) assays were developed for assessing the variants of three preeclampsia related genes; F5, MTHFR and VEGFA. An association of six SNVs; F5:c.1601G>A (rs6025), F5:c.6665A>G (rs6027), MTHFR: c.665C>T (rs1801133), MTHFR: c.1286A>C (rs1801131), VEGFA: c.-2055A>C (rs699947) and VEGFA: c.*237C>T (rs3025039) with preeclampsia was determined by using different genetic models. Results: Genotyping of the SNVs revealed that patients with MTHFR:c.665C>T, have increased susceptibility to preeclampsia (CT versus CC/TT: OR=2.79, 95% CI=1.18-6.59; P*=0.046 and CT/TT vs CC: OR=2.91, 95% CI=1.29-6.57; P*=0.0497, in overdominant and dominant models, respectively), whereas F5:c.6665A>G, (A/G vs AA/GG: OR=0.42, 95% CI=0.21-0.84; P*=0.038 in overdominant model) and MTHFR:c.1286A>C, (CC versus AA: OR=0.36, 95% CI=0.18-0.72; P*=0.0392 in codominant model) have significantly decreased risk for preeclampsia. F5:c.1601G>A, VEGFA: c.-2055A>C and VEGFA: c.*237C>T variants revealed no relationship with the disease. Conclusion: This is the first case control study describing the protective role of F5:c.6665A>G against preeclampsia in any world population. In addition, the present study confirmed the association and role of MTHFR gene variations in the development of preeclampsia in Pakistani patients. Further genetic studies may be required to better understand the complex genetic mechanism of SNVs in preeclampsia related genes in pregnant women.