Dutch scientists have found out that the condition of preeclampsia that may cause complications in giving birth may be passed on from mothers to their daughters.
Preeclampsia is a condition that is characterized by high blood pressure, protein in the urine and swelling of hands and feet. This is one of the pregnancy-induced conditions that may cause severe complications to the pregnant mother and unborn child.Scientists have identified a gene called STOX1 or C10orf24 that contained five different missense mutations, which are identical between sisters. This exists with preeclampsia phenotype and follows inheritance from the mother. Four STOX1 transcripts are articulated in early placenta. STOX1 is said to control polyploidization of extravillus trophoblast that leads to preeclampsia. This is because how the placenta develops in the early stages of pregnancy is what leads to the diseases of preeclampsia and others.
The scientists hope that one single blood test will be able to predict the gene that gives a woman with the STOX1 genotype a fift percent chance of having preeclampsia.
The study is published in the April issue of Nature Genetics.
