Differential gene expression identified in complete hydatidiform mole by combining suppression subtractive hybridization and cDNA microarray

Complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) is a type of gestational trophoblastic disease with pure paternal chromosome contribution and unpredictable malignant potential. As an attempt to assess the molecular pathogenesis of CHM, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) combined with cDNA microarray was used to compare the gene expression pattern of CHM compared with normal first-trimester placenta of similar gestational ages. cDNA microarray analysis using tissue-specific chips constructed with subtracted cDNA libraries identified 13 differentially expressed gene transcripts. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed up-regulation of human chorionic gonadotropin subunit (CGB) (P = 0.0008) and KIAA1200 (P = 0.0005), a G-protein regulator, as well as down-regulation of osteopontin (SPP1) (P < 0.0001) in 14 genotyped CHM when compared with 15 normal placentas. These candidate genes may contribute toward understanding the mechanism involved with the development and progression of CHM.