Evaluation of STOX1 as a preeclampsia candidate gene in a population-wide sample.

Preeclampsia is a common, pregnancy-specific vascular disorder characterised by hypertension and proteinuria. A recent report suggested association of the STOX1 gene on chromosome 10q22.1 with preeclampsia in the Dutch population. Here, we present a comprehensive assessment of STOX1 as a candidate gene for preeclampsia in the Finnish population by re-examining our previous genetic linkage analysis results for both chromosome 10 and paralogous loci, by genotyping representative markers in a nationwide data set, and by studying STOX1 expression in placentas from preeclamptic and uncomplicated pregnancies. In conclusion, we are unable to validate STOX1 as a common preeclampsia susceptibility gene.