Objective: To compare genomic expression differences between androgenic complete hydatidiform mole (AnCHM) and normal first trimester villi with similar gestation weeks, and search for potential adjuvant diagnostic molecular markers.
Methods: Short tandem repeat (STR) detection was used to identify AnCHM, human oligonucleotide array U133 Plus 2.0 was used to measure genomic expression differences between AnCHM and normal villi, and quantitative fluorescent RT-PCR was used to verify array of several genes.
Results: Nine of 11 histologically diagnosed complete hydatidiform moles were found to be AnCHM by means of STR, and the other 2 were biparental complete hydatidiform mole (BiCHM). Compared with villi, oligonucleotide array showed 279 genes (0.72%, 279/38 500) were over expressed and 1710 genes (4.44%, 1710/38,500) under expressed in AnCHM. Bioinformatics analysis found that differentially expressed genes were involved in multiple biological processes and pathways. Changes of imprinting genes, growth hormone genes and chorionic somatomammotropin hormone genes were especially remarkable.
Conclusions: Pathogenesis of AnCHM is a complex process involving multiple genes and pathways. Altered expression of imprint genes may play important roles in the process.