Author(s): Cardoso , Sara ; Ferreira, Jorge ; Silva Santos , Rui ; Lopes , Paula ; Pinto , Carla ; Rodrigues, Marta ; Pinho, Maria João ; Capela, Liliana ; Dória, Sofia ; Jerónimo, Carmen ; Bartosch , Carla
Date: 2025
Origin: Proceedings of Research and Practice in Allied and Environmental Health
Subject(s): Differentially methylated regions (DMRs); Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD); Methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA); Parental origin
Background: Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a rare condition marked by abnormal proliferation of placental trophoblastic cells and encompasses a heterogeneous group of disorders with distinct clinical, imaging, and histological features, each requiring tailored therapeutic approaches. Although GTD generally has a good prognosis, early diagnosis, targeted treatment, and continuous surveillance are essential for high cure rates. Given the overlapping phenotypic features of GTD entities, histopathological evaluation can be subjective, highlighting the need for molecular diagnostic tests to complement morphological assessments. Aim: To determine the parental origin of 44 products of conception (POCs) by assessing methylation levels in chromosomal region 11p15.5. Methods: Forty-four cases, including 11 complete hydatidiform moles (CHM), 11 partial hydatidiform moles (PHM), and non-molar POCs (controls), were studied. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded FFPE tissue samples, and MS-MLPA was conducted, followed by capillary electrophoresis. MS-MLPA, targeting differentially methylated regions (DMRs) such as H19DMR and KvDMR, enabled parental origin determination. Results: Parental origin was accurately established in 40 of the 44 samples. Four samples (2 CHM, 1 NM69 (non-molar triploid gestation), 1 NM47 (non-molar gestation with chromosomal trisomy)) could not be reliably analyzed using MS-MLPA. The mean final methylation ratio (FMR) values in CHM, PHM, NM69, and NM47 were calculated using Joergensen’s modified formula, showing distinct methylation profiles across the groups [4]. Conclusions: Based on the methylation status of the DRMs studied, it was possible to identify the proportion of alleles inherited from the father and/or mother, with each being inversely methylated according to parental origin [4,5]. MS-MLPA proved effective in determining parental origin without requiring parental samples, which is especially useful in cases involving egg donor pregnancies where DNA genotyping may be unreliable [4,5,6]. MS-MLPA is therefore a valuable diagnostic tool for GTD; however, it should ideally be used alongside other diagnostic methods to ensure a more comprehensive analysis.
