The Correlation of Circulating Cell-Free DNA, Cell-Free Fetal DNA and MicroRNA 325 Levels to Clinical Characteristics and Laboratory Parameters in Pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Objective: Elevated amounts of circulating DNA in maternal plasma have been detected in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. In order to confirm this, we simultaneously examined whether increased circulating cell-free DNA and microRNA levels are related to the clinical and laboratory parameters of preeclamptic patients. The quantity of total plasma-free DNA did not correlate with most of the laboratory parameters except for serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities. MicroRNA expression was significantly lower in preeclamptic patients than in normotensive cases. There was no correlation with clinical characteristics, including body mass index. The quantity of markers of inflammation, endothelial activation/injury and oxidative stress did not show any correlation with cf DNA levels, and neither did cff DNA levels. Hepatocellular necrosis seems to be responsible – at least partly – for the increased circulating total DNA levels in preeclampsia, as suggested by the significant correlation with liver enzyme activities. MiRNA 325 also seems to play role in the developement of preeclampsia.