Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A (2024)

Preeclampsia (PE) is a disease associated with pregnancy and a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In spite of researches in understanding the pathogenesis of PE, the underline mechanism is not yet clear. This study was carried out to evaluate the expression of selected genes that may be linked to pathways associated with the pathogenesis and disorders of PE namely leptin, Beta-hexosaminidase A and B, FMS related Tyrosine Kinase1 (FLT1), Cycline-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C(CDKN1C), Cytochrome P450 family II subfamily A member 1(CYPIIA1), Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte Associated Protein-4(CTLA-4). A total of 120 participants recruited from the Antenatal Clinic of Obsteric and Gyneacology department of University College Hospital Ibadan Oyo State Nigeria were used for this study. They were between the ages of 18 to 45 years and were grouped into 2 groups. Group 1 were 60 apparently healthy pregnant women in their 2^nd trimester, Group 2 were 60 freshly diagnosed preeclamptic women in their 2nd trimester. Blood samples of the participants was taken and prepared to obtain total RNA using Quick-RNA MiniPrepTM Kit (Zymo Research). The RNA was converted to cDNA using ProtoSript First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit(NEB). The result of the study shows that leptin, CDKN1C, CYPIIA and CTLA4 mRNA expression was significantly (P<0.05) high in PE patients than in non- PE pregnant women. There is however no significant difference p<0.05 in the mRNA expression of FLT1 gene in both test and comtrol. The expression of these genes and their roles in pathways linked to the etiology of PE could provide insight into the mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of PE and subsequently early diagnosis and reduction in prevalence.