Methylation profile of genes involved in inflammation, in the blood from pregnancies with maternal preeclampsia due to untreated gestational diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: To investigate DNA methylation changes in peripheral blood from patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia (PE) due to poorly treated GDM.

METHODS: Eighteen pregnant women participated in the study: 6 with GDM, 6 with PE, and 6 healthy controls. The promoter methylation status of genes was profiled using the Human Inflammatory Response and Autoimmunity EpiTect Methyl II Signature PCR Array profiles. The results were validated with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS: Fewer inflammation-related genes were significantly hypomethylated in PE cases compared to healthy subjects than in GDM cases. Some of the examined genes show different methylation patterns between GDM and PE.

CONCLUSIONS: The epigenetic changes observed in this study indicate that GDM and PE exhibit specific DNA methylation profiles, with possible clinical applications.