Maternal and fetal angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism not associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension in Chinese women

Abstract

Objective. The study aimed to investigate whether maternal and fetal angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms and the incompatibility of maternal and fetal ACE genotype are associated with the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) in Chinese Han women.

Methods. Using a case-control mother-baby dyads study, a total of 226 maternal/offspring pairs were selected at Anyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2008 to December 2009. Maternal venous and cord bloods were obtained for DNA extraction. A polymerase chain reaction was performed on the genomic DNA samples to obtain the ACE gene I/D polymorphism.

Results. In the present sample, there is no difference in maternal and fetal ACE genotype or allele frequency between PIH patients and control group (p > 0.05). Furthermore, no significant association was found between the genotype incompatibility of fetal and maternal ACE gene and the risk of PIH (p > 0.05).

Conclusion. We did not find fetus ACE gene I/D polymorphism to be associated with the risk of PIH. Nor is there any evidence that the incompatibility of fetal and maternal ACE genotype is associated with PIH in the studied population.

Keywords:

• Genetics polymorphism
• pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH)
• angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
• maternal-fetal genotype incompatibility

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Chinese National Natural Science Foundation (30700681/H2610). The authors acknowledge to mothers and infants who participated in the study.

Declaration of interest: This study was supported by a grant from the Chinese National Natural Science Foundation (30700681/H2610). The authors have no conflicts of interest for this article.