# ADIPOQ polymorphisms and haplotypes affect circulating adiponectin levels and their association with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia

## TL;DR

This study finds that genetic variations in the ADIPOQ gene influence adiponectin levels and may increase the risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

## Contribution

The study is the first to examine how ADIPOQ SNPs and haplotypes affect adiponectin levels in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

## Key findings

- Plasma adiponectin levels were higher in preeclampsia compared to healthy pregnancies.
- The GG genotype of rs266729 increased the risk of gestational hypertension.
- Certain ADIPOQ haplotypes were associated with higher adiponectin levels in preeclampsia.

## Abstract

Imbalance of adipocytokines has been implicated in endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Adiponectin is an adipocytokine that regulates metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation, and increased adiponectin levels have been associated with mortality in subjects with cardiovascular diseases. Adiponectin also plays a role in trophoblast invasion during placental development. ADIPOQ gene has polymorphisms that modulate adiponectin levels and are linked to several diseases, including gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE). However, no previous study has examined whether ADIPOQ SNPs and haplotypes affect adiponectin levels in HDP.

We assessed and compared plasma adiponectin levels among healthy pregnant (HP, n = 182), GH (n = 121), and PE (n = 133) women, and examined whether ADIPOQ SNPs rs266729, rs2241766 and rs1501299, and their haplotypes are associated with susceptibility to HDP; and whether these polymorphisms and haplotypes affect adiponectin levels in HP, GH and PE.

Adiponectin concentrations were determined using the Human Adiponectin ELISA kit. Genotypes were determined by Taqman allele discrimination assays. Haplotype frequencies were estimated using Haplo. stats. Multiple logistic/linear regression analyses were adjusted for selected covariates.

Plasma adiponectin levels were higher in PE than in HP, including when patients were stratified by body mass index. Regarding rs266729 (C>G) SNP, the GG genotype was associated with risk for GH, and the CG genotype may protect against PE. PE patients carrying the CG and GG genotypes showed higher adiponectin levels than their CC counterparts. The ‘G,T,G’ haplotype showed higher adiponectin levels in PE than in HP, and the ‘C,T,T’ haplotype may protect against GH.

Our novel findings indicate that ADIPOQ polymorphisms and haplotypes may affect circulating adiponectin levels and the susceptibility to GH and PE.