Renin gene restriction fragment length polymorphisms do not show linkage with preeclampsia and eclampsia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate linkage between the renin gene restriction fragment length polymorphisms in families with a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia. METHODS: Nine Icelandic families with at least three affected females in two or three generations were investigated. DNA from lymphocytes was digested with the endonuclease restriction enzyme Bgl I and restriction fragments were transferred by Southern Blotting. Hybridisation was effected with the 32P-oligonucleotide-labeled diallelic genomic probe pHRnX 0.8. LOD scores were calculated by the Liped program for two forms of inheritance patterns. Affected sib pairs were analysed. RESULTS: Frequencies of the 9.0 kb and 5.0 kb alleles were 0.67 and 0.33, with no significant differences between affected females and spouses and combined LOD scores of -2 for recombination values of 3%. Allele sharing in affected sibs was not different from the expected random assortment. CONCLUSION: The linkage analysis provides evidence to exclude alteration of the renin gene in pregnancy as being directly responsible for the manifestations of preeclampsia or eclampsia in these families.