Genetic Variation in the Indoleamine 2,3‐Dioxygenase Gene in Pre‐eclampsia

Abstract

Citation Nishizawa H, Kato T, Ota S, Nishiyama S, Pryor‐Koishi K, Suzuki M, Tsutsumi M, Inagaki H, Kurahashi H, Udagawa Y. Genetic variation in the indoleamine 2,3‐Dioxygenase gene in pre‐eclampsia. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 64: 68–76 Problem To investigate the contribution of genomic variations in the indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO) gene to the onset of pre‐eclampsia. Method of study We examined sequence variations in the IDO1 gene using placental genomic DNA from 35 pre‐eclamptic patients and 32 normotensive pregnant women. Results A case–control study revealed that none of the common variants influences the risk of disease. Sequencing of each IDO1 exon in diseased subjects revealed rare variants. This variation, c.‐147_150delGAAA, was located within the 5′‐untranslated region of the IDO1 gene, and its homozygote was identified only in pre‐eclamptic subjects. However, despite the low levels of IDO expression and enzyme activity in the c.‐147_150delGAAA homozygote, reporter assays indicated that this variation does not affect gene expression. Conclusion Our findings indicate that genetic alteration of fetal IDO gene does not appear to be a primary cause of pre‐eclampsia.