Analysis of ICAM-1 rs3093030, VCAM-1 rs3783605, and E-Selectin rs1805193 Polymorphisms in African Women Living with HIV and Preeclampsia

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin are cell adhesion molecules that play a significant role in inflammation and are implicated in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia development and HIV infection. More specifically, the immune expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin within cyto- and syncytiotrophoblast cells are dysregulated in preeclampsia, indicating their role in defective placentation. This study investigates the associations of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin gene variants (rs3093030, rs3783605, and rs1805193, respectively) with preeclampsia comorbid with HIV infection in women of African ancestry. It also examines the susceptibility to preeclampsia development and the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). A total of 405 women were enrolled in this study. Out of these women, 204 were preeclamptic and 201 were normotensive. Clinical characteristics were maternal age, weight, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), and gestational age. Whole blood was collected, DNA was extracted, and genotyping of the ICAM-1 (rs3093030 C>T), VCAM-1(rs3783605 A>G), and E-selectin (rs1805193 A>C) gene polymorphisms was performed. Comparisons were made using the Chi-squared test. Our results demonstrated that preeclamptic women exhibited a higher frequency of analyzed variants, in contrast to those with the duality of preeclampsia and HIV infection. Additionally, the C allele of the ICAM-1 (rs3093030 C>T) and G allele of the VCAM-1 (rs3783605 A>G) genes were found to have a greater role in the co-morbidity and may be considered as a risk factor for preeclampsia development in women of African ancestry. In contrast, the SNP of rs1805193 of the E-selectin gene indicated that A>C was only significantly associated with HIV infection and not with preeclampsia. These findings highlight a strong association of the rs3093030 SNP of the ICAM-1 gene and of the VCAM-1 rs3783605 gene with the development of preeclampsia, indicating their role in the defective trophoblast invasion of preeclampsia. Sub-group analysis further reveals an association of the AA genotype with late-onset preeclampsia, a less severe form of disease indicating differing genetic predispositions between early and late-onset forms.