Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (C677T and glutathione S-transferase P1 A313G are associated with a reduced risk of preeclampsia in Maya-Mestizo women

Preeclampsia, a common complication of pregnancy, is characterized by elevated blood pressure and proteinuria developing after 20 weeks' gestational age. Susceptibility to this syndrome is believed to have a genetic component. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not the 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) A313G polymorphisms are associated with preeclampsla in Maya-Mestizo women. A case-control study was performed, in which 125 preeclamptic patients and 274 healthy controls were genotyped for the MTHFR C677T and GSTP1 A313G polymorphisms by real-time PCR allelic discrimination. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared using the χ² tests. The MTHFR 677T allele and the 677TT genotype were significantly more frequent in the controls, suggesting an association with a decreased risk of preeclampsla (p=0.017 and p=0.007, respectively). Similarly, GSTP1 3136GG/GC genotypes and the G allele were more frequent in controls, showing a significant association with reduced risk of preeclampsla (p=0.008 and p=0.013, respectively). Our results suggest, for the first time, that the MTHFR 677T and GSTP1 313G polymorphisms confer a significantly decreased risk of developing preeclampsla in the Mexican Maya-Mestizo population.