The etiology of preeclampsia (PE) is unknown, but endothelial cell injury plays a pivotal role. Moreover, there is a significantly positive association between PE and later hypertension. Apolipoprotein J (apo J) plays an important role in stabilizing cell membranes at diverse fluid-tissue interfaces and might protect vascular endothelium against an attack by some factors in plasma such as active complement complexes. This study investigated the prevalence and possible association of apo J gene in PE and essential hypertension (EH). To screen for polymorphisms of apo J gene in a population in Guizhou, China, by employing polymerase chain reaction combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, we identified 866C-->T polymorphism in exon 5 and a rare variant 1061C-->T in exon 7. The CT genotype and T-allele frequencies in PE (CT genotype 26%; T allele 13%) and EH (CT genotype 28.57%; T allele 17.14%) were significantly lower than that in the control group (CT geno type 50%; T allele 27%). The results suggested that the 866C-->T polymorphism might be associated with PE and EH. It is plausible that apo J may play a certain role in the predisposition to PE and EH.
Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.