Genome-wide methylation profiling demonstrates hypermethylation in maternal leukocyte DNA in preeclamptic compared to normotensive pregnancies.

Objective: To compare genome-wide methylation profiles in maternal leukocyte DNA between normotensive and preeclamptic pregnant women at delivery. Methods: Age, body mass index matched case-control comparison of methylation at 27,578 cytosine- guanine sites in 14,495 genes in maternal leukocyte DNA in women with preeclampsia (PE; n = 14) and normotensive controls ( n = 14). Results: PE was associated with widespread differential methylation favoring hypermethylation. Pathway analysis identified the best matched process as a neuropeptide signaling pathway ( p < 10−5); best matched disease as eclampsia ( p < 9.97 × 10−20). Significantly differentially methylated genes ( GRIN2b. GABRA1. PCDHB7, and BEX1) are associated with seizures. Conclusion: Altered maternal leukocyte DNA methylation is associated with PE at delivery, and differential methylation of certain neuronal genes may explain the risk for eclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]