Reduced H3c6 Mrna Levels in Preeclamptic Placentas Without Associated Cpg Island Methylation Changes Publisher



Zakidizaji M ; Saravani M ; Jamshidi B ; Nemati SMH ; Ghasemi M ; Heidary Z
Source: Gene Reports Published:2026

Abstract

Background: Despite advances in diagnostics, preeclampsia (PE) remains a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying PE is essential for developing improved interventions. Recent evidence points to epigenetic dysregulation of HIST1H3E (H3C6) in PE placentas, characterized by decreased expression and hypermethylation. Therefore, this study investigates H3C6 expression and methylation patterns in PE placentas compared to healthy controls. Materials and methods: We analyzed 30 PE and 30 control placental tissues. H3C6 mRNA levels were quantified by RT-qPCR, and methylation status was assessed via Methylation-Quantification of Endonuclease-Resistant DNA (MethyQESD) targeting two CpG island regions in H3C6 gene. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism. Results: Quantitative analysis revealed significantly reduced H3C6 mRNA expression in preeclamptic placentas compared to controls (p < 0.05). However, methylation analysis of two CpG island regions within H3C6 gene demonstrated no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: While H3C6 is underexpressed in PE, its methylation status in the analyzed CpG islands remains unaltered. Future studies should explore other regulatory regions (e.g., CpG shores/shelfs) and mechanistic links to PE pathophysiology. © 2025