CREB-binding protein (CREBBP) and preeclampsia: a new promising target gene

Abstract

Preeclampsia (PE) is a major complication of pregnancy and remains a leading cause of neonatal and maternal mortality worldwide. Several studies have revealed that the incidence of preeclampsia is high in mothers who carried a fetus with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome due to the mutation in CREBBP. We aimed to compare the expression level of the CERBBP gene between preeclamptic and healthy placenta in our study. The expression level of CREBBP gene was evaluated in a total of one hundred placental biopsies from PE patients and healthy pregnant women after delivery using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Moreover, the differential expression of CREBBP was assessed between the maternal and fetal sides of the placenta. Expression of the CREBBP gene was higher in preeclampsia patients compared with the controls (Fold change = 2.158; P = 0.018). Moreover, the gene expression was slightly higher in the fetal side of the placenta, although it was not significantly different (Fold change = 1.713, P = 0.254). Our findings show a role for CREBBP in the pathogenesis of PE. Due to the important role of CREBBP in angiogenesis and hypoxia, the gene may serve as a promising target in future studies.