Complete hydatidiform mole retaining a chromosome 11 of maternal origin: Molecular genetic analysis of a case

Rosemary A. Fisher, Marisa R. Nucci, Harshwardhan M. Thaker, Stanislawa Weremowicz, David R. Genest, Diego H. Castrillon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hydatidiform moles are pregnancies characterized by abnormal development of both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues and are associated with the misexpression of imprinted genes. The vast majority of complete hydatidiform moles are diploid and androgenetic, whereas partial hydatidiform moles are triploid, with an extra set of chromosomes of paternal origin. Here, we present an unusual complete mole that showed strong expression of two imprinted, maternally transcribed genes, CDKN1C (encoding p57KIP2) and PHLDA2 (TSSC3/IPL), both part of a large imprinted gene domain on chromosome 11. Using microsatellite genotyping and fluorescent in situ hybridization, we show that this paradoxical gene expression was due to retention of a maternal copy of chromosome 11 in addition to the two paternal copies normally present in complete moles. These findings demonstrate that, despite being predominantly androgenetic, some complete moles contain small amounts of DNA of maternal origin. Furthermore, these results provide an explanation for rare false negatives that can arise when p57KIP2 is used as a diagnostic marker for complete moles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1155-1160
Number of pages6
JournalModern Pathology
Volume17
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • CDKN1C
  • Genomic imprinting
  • Hydatidiform mole
  • IPL
  • P57
  • PHLDA2
  • Trisomy 11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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