Evidence GDF15 Plays a Role in Familial and Recurrent Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Abstract

Introduction Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a pregnancy complication characterized by severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, occurs in up to 2% of pregnancies. It is associated with both maternal and fetal morbidity. HG is highly heritable and recurs in approximately 80% of women. In a recent genome-wide association study, it was shown that placentation, appetite, and the cachexia gene GDF15 are linked to HG. The purpose of this study was to explore whether GDF15 alleles linked to overexpression of GDF15 protein segregate with the condition in families, and whether the GDF15 risk allele is associated with recurrence of HG.

Methods We analyzed GDF15 overexpression alleles for segregation with disease using exome-sequencing data from 5 HG families. We compared the allele frequency of the GDF15 risk allele, rs16982345, in patients who had recurrence of HG with its frequency in those who did not have recurrence.

Results Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to higher levels of GDF15 segregated with disease in HG families. The GDF15 risk allele, rs16982345, was associated with an 8-fold higher risk of recurrence of HG.

Conclusion The findings of this study support the hypothesis that GDF15 is involved in the pathogenesis of both familial and recurrent cases of HG. The findings may be applicable when counseling women with a familial history of HG or recurrent HG. The GDF15-GFRAL brainstem-activated pathway was recently identified and therapies to treat conditions of abnormal appetite are under development. Based on our findings, patients carrying GDF15 variants associated with GDF15 overexpression should be included in future studies of GDF15-GFRAL-based therapeutics. If safe, this approach could reduce maternal and fetal morbidity.

Introduction

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) affects 50 – 90% of all pregnant women 1 . Hyperemesis gravidarum, the most severe form of NVP, occurs in 0.3 – 2% of pregnancies and leads to significant weight loss, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and ketonuria 2 ,  3 . It accounts for 285 000 hospital discharges in the US annually 4 and is associated with maternal morbidity such as Wernickeʼs encephalopathy 5 , renal and liver function abnormalities 6 ,  7 , esophageal rupture 8 , and postpartum posttraumatic stress 9 . HG is associated with a 4-fold increased risk of adverse fetal outcome including low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery, fetal and neonatal death, and a 3-fold increased risk of neurodevelopmental delay in children 10 ,  11 .

A variety of potential causative factors have been investigated, with the primary hypothesis being overproduction of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 2 . There has never been sufficient evidence to support the hCG theory and a recent large retrospective cohort study provides strong evidence against it 12 . A genetic etiology to the condition is supported by familial aggregation and twin studies 13 ,  14 and our genome-wide association study shows the single-most significantly-associated genetic risk factor is GDF15 , which encodes a placenta, appetite and body weight hormone 15 . GDF15 is involved in placentation and feeding behavior and is associated with cachexia, a disease with similar symptoms to HG (nausea, vomiting, weight loss, anorexia, and muscle wasting) 16 ,  17 ,  18 . In addition, the GDF15 receptor GFRAL was recently identified and is localized in the brainstem where feeding behavior, nausea and vomiting are regulated 19 . Herein we analyze GDF15, linked to HG, to provide further evidence that it may ultimately serve as a biomarker for prediction, diagnosis, and identification of novel treatments.

Materials and Methods

Participants

This study is part of an ongoing investigation evaluating the genetics and epidemiology of HG 10 ,  11 ,  15 . HG cases treated with intravenous fluids (IV) sent in saliva samples for genotyping and were asked to fill out an online survey regarding symptoms and treatments. All participants gave informed consent.

Phenotype definition

The inclusion criteria for affected individuals were a diagnosis of HG and treatment with intravenous (IV) fluids. The inclusion criteria for affected families was a diagnosis of HG treated with IV fluids in at least one family member, and two additional family members who reported at least 2 of the following: intravenous fluids, weight loss, medication, and/or hospitalization due to HG. Each family was asked to recruit one unaffected family member to serve as a control. Controls were eligible if they reported normal NVP or no NVP and no weight loss nor treatment for NVP in any pregnancy.

Recruitment

The source population for HG cases included patients residing in the US primarily recruited through advertising on the Hyperemesis Education and Research Foundation website 20 from 2007 to 2017. Women with a history of an HG pregnancy e-mailed the study coordinator to express their interest in participation. Minors (under 18 years) were not included in the study because few teens are expected to fit the study criteria for controls of having had two pregnancies, and it would be difficult to justify the risks/benefits to normal control minors. Because multiple gestations or chromosome abnormalities may be associated with HG due to unique physiological pathways, women with these types of pregnancies were also excluded. Each case was asked to provide medical records and fill out an online survey collecting information regarding family history, patient history, symptoms, medications, and outcomes. Participants that reported having two or more family members affected with HG were asked if they would like to participate in the family study. Participants who were interested were asked to let their family members with a pregnancy history know about the study and if they wanted to participate, to contact the study coordinator by e-mail. All participants were required to go over an information sheet by phone and return a signed information sheet with all elements of consent in order to enroll in the study.

Sample collection

Each study participant was asked to submit a saliva sample for DNA analysis. DNA Genotek saliva kits (Oragene, Ottawa, Canada) were mailed to all cases and controls. The saliva collection kit is self-administered and comes with directions for submitting 2 ml of saliva into a collection vial and returning the sample to the study site via an addressed and postage-paid return envelope provided with the collection kit.

Whole-exome sequencing

Whole-exome sequencing was performed previously 21 . We sequenced the entire exomes (~ 50 Mb) of 15 affected individuals and 5 unaffected individuals from 5 HG families. Paired end reads 100 nucleotides (2 × 100 nucleotides) were generated on an Illumina HiSeq 2000. Each sample was sequenced on 3 different lanes to avoid lane bias. Qseq files were converted into Sanger-formatted FASTQ files and reads were mapped to the reference human genome build hg19 using the Burrows Wheeler Alignment algorithm (BWA) 22 . Duplicated reads were marked by Picard. The Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK) was used for local realignment around indel sites followed by a base quality recalibration 23 . For reliable SNP calling we used genotype quality ≥ 10; read QUAL ≥ 30 and a minimum read depth of 4. We focused on the lead GDF15 variants associated with HG, rs16982345 and rs34345957, and the 10 variants in high (Dʼ ≥ 0.9) linkage disequilibrium (LD) with the lead variants (rs11881403, rs1043063, rs17725099, rs3787023, rs1058587, and rs1055150 in high LD with rs16982345; rs3195944, rs4808793, rs1227731, rs1054564 in high LD with rs3435957) that have been associated previously with altered expression of GDF15 15 . These 12 GDF15 variants were searched for in each of the five families and analyzed to determine whether any of the variants segregated with disease (were present in all 3 affected family members but not in the unaffected family member).

Recurrence definition

Participants who were genotyped and reported a diagnosis of HG treated with IV fluids in their first pregnancy and reported HG with > 5% weight loss from pre-pregnancy weight in their second pregnancy were defined as having a recurrence. A nonrecurring HG pregnancy was defined as having HG treated with IV fluids in the first pregnancy and ≤ 5% weight loss from pre-pregnancy weight in the second pregnancy.

DNA extraction

DNA was extracted from the saliva samples according to manufacturerʼs instructions (Oragene, Ottawa Canada). Using the kit, we have successfully isolated, on average, 197 µg of DNA of high quality (260/280 1.84) from 2 ml of saliva. The low end of expected DNA quantity reported by the manufacturer is 30 µg/ml of saliva, or 60 µg/sample. After the extraction, the DNA was stored at − 20 °C.

Quality control

The TaqMan genotyping platform was performed on 384-well plates with a minimum of 2 blank samples per plate and a minimum of 2 duplicate samples per plate. Once genotypes were determined from the first 384-well plate, a minimum of 3 positive controls or one positive control for each genotype was added to the remaining plates. The minimum call rate for each SNP was > 95%.

Genotyping

TaqMan genotyping primers for rs16982345 were available from Thermo Fisher Scientific and Applied Biosystems PRISM 7900HT Sequence Detection System (TaqMan) and used for screening HG cases and HG families. The call rate was > 95%. Additional SNPs that have been reported to be linked to altered GDF15 levels, rs1054564 and rs1055150, were determined in the 5 families using whole-exome sequencing data as reported previously 21 .

Statistical analysis

Differences in genotypes for the GDF15 HG risk locus rs16982345 between those that had a recurrence and those that did not have a recurrence were calculated using the online odds ratio calculator available at https://www.medcalc.org/calc/odds_ratio.php , an online program which calculates p-value, odds ratio, and 95% confidence interval. The number of cases carrying the risk allele “G” (AG + GG) genotype vs. the AA genotype at rs16982345 were compared between the 119 cases that had a recurrence of HG and the 25 cases that did not recur.

This study was approved by the UCLA Institutional Review Board.

There are no competing financial interests.

Results

To determine whether GDF15 variants associated with altered circulating GDF15 levels segregate with disease in HG families, GDF15 variants were analyzed using existing whole-exome sequencing data from 5 HG families 21 . Specifically, five families with three family members each whose pregnancies were affected by HG and one family member with normal NVP were genotyped to determine whether the risk alleles segregate with disease. Three SNPs associated with altered expression of GDF15 in previous studies 24 ,  25 ,  26 segregated with disease in family 1 (rs16982345), family 2 (rs1054564), and family 3 (rs1055150) ( Fig. 1 ). GDF15 variants did not segregate with disease in the family with the RYR2 mutation published previously 21 . In summary, in three of five families, the affected family members all carry genotypes that are associated with increased GDF15 levels, while the unaffected family members do not ( Fig. 1 ).

Fig. 1.

 Three of five HG families show segregation of alleles at GDF15 locus associated with increased expression of GDF15. The index case is labeled with an “A” in each family. a  Family 1 is of English/Irish/Swedish/Welsh descent. Case 1A reported IV fluid, total parenteral nutrition, antiemetic medication, home health care, and a > 5% weight loss due to HG. Her cousin (1B) reported normal NVP with no weight loss and no medication to treat NVP. Her aunt (1C) reported antiemetic medication and weight loss due to HG, and her great aunt (1D) reported antiemetic medication and unrelenting nausea that kept her bedridden for 6 months due to HG. b  Family 2 is of English/German/Scottish/Irish descent. Case 2A reported IV fluid, hospitalization, > 5% weight loss, and antiemetic medication to treat her HG. Her aunt (2B) reported IV fluid, hospitalization, weight loss, and antiemetic medication to treat her HG. Her cousin (affected auntʼs daughter, [2C]) reported antiemetic medication and a 24-pound weight loss in the first trimester due to HG. Participant 2F, the unaffected sister of 2C, reported 2 easy pregnancies with no weight loss nor treatment for NVP. c  Family 3 is of English/Irish descent. Case 3A reported IV fluid, hospitalization, > 10% weight loss, and antiemetic medication to treat HG. One affected sister (3B) reported IV fluid, hospitalization, and antiemetic medication to treat HG. The other affected sister (3C) reported IV fluid, hospitalization, weight loss, and antiemetic medication to treat HG. The unaffected aunt (3E) reported mild NVP with no medication or weight loss.

Finally, 144 HG patients reporting at least 2 pregnancies were divided into two groups depending on whether they had a recurrence of HG or not. Demographic characteristics are reported in Table 1 . A recurrence was defined as having HG treated with IV fluids in the first pregnancy and HG with > 5% weight loss from pre-pregnancy weight in the second pregnancy (n = 119). A nonrecurring HG pregnancy was defined as having HG treated with IV fluids in the first pregnancy and ≤ 5% weight loss from pre-pregnancy weight in the second pregnancy (n = 25). Using this definition, 83% of women had a recurrence in their second pregnancy. Only 2 out of 119 (1.7%) of women with HG carrying the A/A genotype at rs16982345 had a recurrence of HG, compared to 3 out of 25 (12%) of the women that did not recur. The SNP rs16982345 was predictive of recurrence (p = 0.03, OR = 7.98, 1.26 – 50.55). The SNP rs16982345-G allele is associated with HG, and consistent with this, women with the rs16982345-AA genotype were significantly less likely to recur.

Table 1  Demographic characteristics*.

*  Totals vary depending on number of women who answered that particular survey question.
Ethnicity (% white)	130/144 (90.3%)
Average maternal birth year	1977 (1963 – 1989)
Average number of HG pregnancies	2.51 (1 – 8)
Percent of women who voluntarily terminated	14/134 (10.4%)
Average number of living children	2.02 (0 – 5)
First child (average year born)	2004 (1986 – 2012)
Women who had vaginal deliveries	114/131 (87.0%)
Women who lost one or more pregnancies	31/132 (23.5%)
Women who received partial or complete higher education	47/57 (82.5%)
Women who had a recurrence	119/144 (82.6%)

Comment

This is the first study to show that variants associated with altered GDF15 levels segregate with disease in HG families, a finding that may explain familial susceptibility to HG. This study also shows that the GDF15 risk allele, rs16982345 15 , is associated with risk of recurrence, suggesting it also plays a role in non-familial HG. Approximately 80% of women who have HG will have it again in a subsequent pregnancy and this study identifies the first genetic risk factor associated with recurrence. GDF15 is highly expressed by the fetal component of the placenta 27 , so future studies should focus on whether fetal genotype also plays a role in recurrence.

Additional supportive evidence of a role for GDF15 in HG comes from previous studies showing it plays a role in placentation 16 , decreases prior to miscarriage 28 , and causes loss of appetite in animal models 29 . GDF15 regulates food intake 19 , and causes cachexia 18 , a disease characterized by symptoms similar to HG. In addition, GDF15 is upregulated in early pregnancy when HG occurs 30 , and serum levels of GDF15 are abnormally high in women hospitalized for HG 31 .

Our findings linking GDF15 SNPs to familial HG and recurrence risk should be explored further to determine whether the associations can be replicated and potentially used for individualized counseling and therapy. In our study, less than 2% of women with the AA genotype at rs16928345 had a recurrence of HG. Thus, genotyping this locus may help doctors counsel their patients on their risk of having HG again, which would help the patient with family planning and preparing for future HG pregnancies. Furthermore, the brainstem-restricted receptor for GDF15, GFRAL, was recently identified and the pathway is actively being studied to identify novel therapeutic strategies for weight gain (and weight loss) which may be applicable to HG 29 . Of particular clinical interest, inhibition of GDF15 restored appetite and weight gain in a mouse model of cancer cachexia 18 . In the future, a drug that decreases levels of GDF15, if safe during pregnancy, may be effective in treating women who carry susceptibility alleles for the condition, limiting the adverse maternal and fetal outcomes associated with HG. Finally, this study provides additional evidence suggesting GDF15 plays a role in the etiology of HG. Clinicians can now let their patients know there is promising evidence that the hormone GDF15 may play a role in causing HG. They can tell their patients they may carry genetic variants around the GDF15 locus that play a role in increasing their risk for HG as well as their risk for recurrence of HG. Physician scientists should focus on collecting HG patient and control DNA and biological samples early in pregnancy to compare GDF15 genotypes and GDF15 levels in cases and controls. This may lead to progress toward tools to help predict, diagnose, and treat this devastating pregnancy condition.

Note

This work has been presented, in part, at the International Conference on Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Windsor, England, 2017.