Association of the CYP17 gene and CYP19 gene polymorphisms with risk of endometriosis in Japanese women

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether polymorphisms of CYP17 and CYP19 genes are associated with the risk of endometriosis, we analysed the frequency and distribution of a single nucleotide polymorphism at the 5' untranslated region of the CYP17 gene, and a tetranucleotide (TTTA) tandem repeat polymorphism and a 3 bp insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism in intron 4 of the CYP19 gene. METHODS: We studied 140 patients with endometriosis, 67 with adenomyosis and/or leiomyomas and 177 healthy control women. RESULTS: The distribution of the genotypes of CYP17 and alleles of the TTTA repeat polymorphism of CYP19 were not significantly different between the groups. In contrast, an increased frequency of the D/D genotype was observed in the endometriosis group as compared with the control group (D/D genotype versus I/I plus I/D genotypes; corrected P = 0.024). This was more evident in the endometriosis subgroups with chocolate cysts (corrected P = 0.043) and at severe clinical stages (corrected P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the 3 bp I/D polymorphism of the CYP19 gene may be weakly associated with the susceptibility of endometriosis in a Japanese population.     

CYP17及 ERα基因多态性与南方妇女子宫内膜异位症的相关性

目的 探讨细胞色素氧化酶17基因(cytochrome P450c17 gene,CYP17)和雌激素受体α基因(estrogen receptor α gene,ERα)多态性与中国南方妇女子宫内膜异位症(endometriosis,EM)的相关性.方法 应用高分辨率溶解曲线(high resolution melting curve,HRM)技术对432例EM患者和499例无EM的妇女 CYP17基因5′端非翻译区rs743572位点多态性(34T/C)和 ERα基因rs932233 位点多态性(-397T/C)进行分析.结果 两组均存在 CYP17 T/C和 ERα T/C多态性,但两组中基因型频率比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),且在患病组和对照组中也未发现两个基因的相互作用与疾病相关.结论 CYP17基因启动子区rs743572位点多态性(34T/C)和 ERα基因rs932233 位点多态性(-397T/C)与中国南方妇女EM发病无明显相关.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 17 (CYP17) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) genes with the risk of endometriosis among southern Chinese women. Methods Two SNPs rs743572 (CYP17 gene 34T/C) and rs9322331 (ERα gene -397T/C) were genotyped by high resolution melting curve in 432 endometriosis patients and 499 matched controls. Results There was no significant difference in the genotype frequencies of the two loci between endometriosis patients and the control subjects (P>0.05). And there was no significant interaction effect of these two genes on the disease either. Conclusion CYP17 gene and ERα gene may not be genetic risk factors for endometriosis among southern women in China.     

CYP19基因多态性与子宫内膜异位症相关性的研究

目的 探讨CYP19基因多态性与中国河北省汉族育龄妇女Ⅲ、Ⅳ期子宫内膜异位症发病风险的关系.方法 采用聚合酶链反应限制性片段长度多态性方法检测102例Ⅲ、Ⅳ期子宫内膜异位症患者(病例组)与100例无子宫内膜异位症病史患者(对照组)CYP19基因115T/C、240A/G、1 531 C/T位点多态性.结果 CYP19基因115T/C的3种基因型TT、TC、CC在病例组的分布为91.18%、8.82%、0,在对照组为88.00%、11.00%、1.00%.T、C等位基因在病例组和对照组中的分布为95.59%、4.41%和93.50%、6.50%.两组比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).CYP19基因240A/G的3种基因型AA、AG、GG在病例组中的分布为27.45%、49.02%、23.53%,在对照组为45.00%、41.00%、14.00%.A、G等位基因在病例组和对照组中的分布为51.96%、48.04%和65.50%、34.50%.两组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).CYP19基因1531 C/T的3种基因型CC、CT、TT在病例组中的分布为41.18%、47.06%、11.76%,在对照组分别为38.00%、42.00%、20.00%,两组间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).C、T等位基因在病例组和对照组中的分布为64.71%、35.29%和59.00%、41.00%.两组比较差异无统计学意义.结论 CYP19基因240GG基因型可能是Ⅲ、Ⅳ期子宫内膜异位症发生的危险因素.     

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)–TNF Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Their Serum Levels in Korean Women with Endometriosis

Problem The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the polymorphisms of the tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and TNF receptor (TNFR) genes and serum levels of TNF‐α and its soluble receptor (sTNFR) in Korean women with endometriosis. Method of study The TNF‐α C(?857)T, C(?863)A and T(?1031)C, and TNFR1 A(36)G, TNFR2 T(676)G, A(1663)G, T(1668)G and C(1690)T polymorphisms, and serum levels of TNF‐α, sTNFR1, and sTNFR2 were analyzed in women with (n = 105) and without endometriosis (n = 101). Results Serum sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 levels were significantly higher in women with endometriosis than in those without endometriosis, whereas no difference in serum TNF‐α level was noted. Single polymorphisms of TNF‐α and TNFR genes were not significantly different between the two groups. The frequencies of the TNF‐α T/C/C haplotype allele and the TNFR2 G/G/T haplotype allele were significantly decreased in women with endometriosis compared to women without endometriosis. Women carrying at least one copy of the TNFR2 T/G/T and /or G/G/C haplotype allele had an approximately two times higher risk of endometriosis than women without these haplotype alleles. Conclusion The haplotype alleles of the TNF‐α and TNFR2 gene polymorphisms are genetic factors associated with endometriosis, and circulating sTNFR rather than TNF‐α, may be involved in the development of endometriosis in Korean women.     

Transforming growth factor-β1 gene polymorphisms in Korean women with endometriosis

Citation Lee HJ, Kim H, Ku S‐Y, Kim SH, Kim JG. Transforming growth factor‐β1 gene polymorphisms in Korean women with endometriosis. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 66: 428–434 Problem To investigate the association between endometriosis, transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGFB1) gene polymorphisms, and serum TGF‐β1 levels in Korean women. Method of study The ?509C/T, 868T/C, 913G/C and 979G/A polymorphisms of the TGFB1 gene were analyzed in women with (n = 131) and without (n = 107) endometriosis using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Serum TGF‐β1 levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The 913G/C and 979G/A polymorphisms were not observed in the study participants. The genotype and allele distribution of the ?509C/T and 868T/C polymorphisms in endometriosis were similar to those in controls. However, the ?509T/868C (TC) haplotype allele was observed 4.55 times more frequently in early‐stage endometriosis than in other haplotype alleles. Serum TGF‐β1 levels were significantly higher in endometriosis than in controls. The single and haplotype genotype of ?509C/T and 868T/C polymorphisms were not related with serum TGF‐β1 levels. Conclusion The TC haplotype allele of TGFB1?509C/T and 868T/C polymorphisms may be associated with early‐stage endometriosis in Korean women.     

Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of women in relation to personality traits

The associations were examined in women between personality traits and steroid hormones, particularly androgens, as well as polymorphisms in genes regulating androgen concentration and effects. Women, all 42 years of age and premenopausal (n = 270), were recruited randomly. Conventional “masculine” and “feminine” personality traits were examined by questionnaire and set in relation to psychosocial and socioeconomic conditions, behavior in childhood, hormones, risk factors for disease, and polymorphisms in microsatellites in the CYP aromatase and the androgen receptor gene. The proportions of personality traits considered as being dominated by “masculinity” (M) or “femininity” (F) were 44.9%, respectively 15.0%, the rest consisting of a combination of M and F (33.2%) or “undifferentiated” (6.9%). M characteristics were positively associated with education, sporting, self-confidence, and good adaptation to work situation. M scores correlated with reports of “tomboyism” as girls. There was essentially no difference in hormones or disease risk factors between M and F women. The number of (CAG) repeats in the microsatellite of the transactivating domain of the androgen receptor was 19 (2.3; M and SD). M characteristics were more pronounced in the presence of longer repeat stretches (n > 20). No associations were found with F scores. There were no significant associations to the number of tetranucleotide repeats (TTTA) in the fourth introne of the aromatase gene. It was concluded that a majority of women showed M type of personality traits, associated with normal hormones, somatic health, and a long microsatellite in the transactivating domain of the AR gene.     

A common polymorphism in the human aromatase gene alters the risk for polycystic ovary syndrome and modifies aromatase activity in vitro

Aromatase is a key enzyme involved in estradiol and estrone biosynthesis. Given that polymorphisms of the CYP19A1 gene encoding aromatase have been correlated with plasma testosterone levels, CYP19A1 may therefore act as a genetic modifier of the hyperandrogenic phenotype of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, no functional CYP19A1 polymorphisms that predict the risk of PCOS have been identified. We explored the role of CYP19A1 genetic variation in a large case-control study involving 1078 samples, in which five common genetic polymorphisms were scored. Human embryonic kidney 293 cells were transiently transfected with a vector encoding either the CYP19A1 wild-type (WT) allele or an Arg(264)Cys variant to evaluate aromatase activity. Cells were cultured with androstenedione and estrone levels were measured using a specific ELISA. The Arg(264)Cys variant of CYP19A1 (rs700519) is associated with PCOS (P= 0.004, corrected P = 0.02). In this functional study, when cells were cultured in varying concentrations of androstenedione (100, 400 and 500 nM), transfection with the Arg(264)Cys variant resulted in increased conversion of androstenedione to estrogen when compared with transfection with the WT construct (P< 0.001). Our data suggest that the common missense polymorphism rs710059 is associated with susceptibility to PCOS and that the Arg(264)Cys variant may increase aromatase enzymatic activity. Overall, these findings imply that aromatase plays an important role in PCOS.     

Interaction between cytochrome P450 gene polymorphisms and serum organochlorine TEQ levels in the risk of endometriosis

Exposure to dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been suggested as a possible etiologic factor for endometriosis, but the association remains highly controversial. To assess whether cytochrome P450 (CYP) gene polymorphisms modulate the effect of dioxins and/or PCBs in endometriosis risk, we conducted a case-control study among infertile Japanese women. A total of 138 eligible women aged 20-45 were diagnosed laparoscopically and classified into three subgroups: control (no endometriosis), early endometriosis (stages I-II) and advanced endometriosis (stages III-IV). Neither CYP1A1 Ile462Val and CYP1B1 Leu432Val polymorphisms (genotypes with versus genotypes without the minor allele) nor serum dioxin and PCB toxic equivalency (TEQ) levels (low versus high) were independently associated with either early or advanced endometriosis risk. However, genotypes with the CYP1A1 462Val allele showed a statistically significant reduced risk of advanced endometriosis in combination with high serum dioxin TEQ levels (adjusted odds ratio = 0.13, 95% confidence interval: 0.02-0.76) (P for interaction = 0.08). Although no association was found between serum PCB TEQ level and advanced endometriosis in any stratum of CYP1B1 Leu432Val polymorphism, a statistically significant interaction was found (P for interaction = 0.05). CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 polymorphisms may modify the relation between environmental exposure to organochlorine and advanced endometriosis risk.     

CYP17 gene polymorphism and its association with high-risk north Indian breast cancer patients

A single T > C change at the 5′ promoter region of the CYP17 gene is reported to be associated with increased risk of breast cancer. This study evaluates the influence of genetic polymorphism of CYP17 on breast cancer susceptibility. Two hundred and forty-two patients with histopathologically confirmed breast cancer and 212 age-matched controls were included in the present study. Information relating to age at onset of the disease, family history and estrogen receptor status was elicited. Investigation for CYP17 polymorphism was carried out in 106 early onset, 80 late onset and 56 familial cases. The frequencies of two CYP17 alleles were also analyzed in 116 (47.9%) cases with known estrogen receptor (ER) status confirmed immunohistochemically. A polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to detect the polymorphism, and the genotypes identified were assigned as homozygous wild type (A1A1), heterozygous variant (A1A2), and homozygous variant (A2A2). Associations between the various genotypes in patients and controls were investigated with Fisher’s exact test. All the tests were two tailed. The results showed that the frequency of heterozygous and homozygous CYP17 genotype was higher in early onset breast cancer patients (94.3%) than in controls (80.3%), and the difference was significant (P = 0.001). A highly statistically significant increased risk in carriers of homozygous A2 allele was found in young patients (P ≤ 0.001) in comparison with patients having late onset condition (P = 0.260). However, no significant association between the genotype and breast cancer risk was observed among women with strong family history. Further, data had showed that patients (80.6%) with at least one A2 allele tended to exhibit ER-independent cell proliferation, although statistical significance could not be established (P = 0.160). The present findings suggest that CYP17 A2 allele gene polymorphism might play a significant role in breast cancer development in young Indian women.     

Influence of STAT4 gene polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of endometriosis

The STAT4 gene is vital to signaling pathways in the immune response. Immunological alterations are involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, and STAT4 polymorphisms may be linked to disease development. This study's aim is to evaluate the possible association between four STAT4 polymorphisms (rs7601754/G > A, rs11889341/C > T, rs7574865/T > G, and rs7582694/C > G) and the pathogenesis of endometriosis in Brazilian women. This case‐control study's sample comprised 238 women with endometriosis and 201 healthy, fertile women without endometriosis (which was surgically confirmed). Genotyping was performed using the TaqMan system with a real‐time polymerase chain reaction; the genotype, allele, and haplotype frequencies were then compared between groups. A single‐polymorphism analysis revealed that the TT genotype of the rs7574865/T > G polymorphism was significantly more frequent in women with minimal or mild endometriosis than in the controls (10% vs. 5%, p = 0.047). The CGAC, GTAT, and GTAC haplotypes were significantly more frequent in the women with endometriosis‐related infertility (5.8%, 4.1%, and 2.9%, respectively) than in the controls (2.4%, 1.1%, and 0.8%, respectively; p = 0.020, p = 0.011, and p = 0.032, respectively), but the GGGC and CTAT haplotypes were significantly more prevalent in the control group (34.7% and 13.9%, respectively) than among the infertile group (26.2% and 9.1%, respectively). In addition, the CGAC haplotype was more frequently found in those with minimal or mild endometriosis (6.8%) than in the controls (2.4%, p = 0.009), and the GTAT haplotype was more commonly found in those with moderate or severe disease (3.6%) than in the controls (1.1%, p = 0.028). These findings suggest that STAT4 polymorphisms can influence the pathogenesis of endometriosis.     

CYP1B1基因多态性与子宫内膜异位症易感性的相关研究

目的 研究CYP1B1基因第2外显子119(G-T)、第3外显子432(C-G)多态性与子宫内膜异位症(endometriosis,Ems)易感性的关系.方法 采用等位基因特异性聚合酶链反应对55例Ems患者和45例对照组进行CYP1B1基因第2外显子119(G-T)、第3外显子432(C-G)突变分析,探讨Ems的发生与CYP1B1基因多态性之间的相关性.结果 CYP1B1基因密码子119中等位基因G、T在Ems组和对照组分布的差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),其中等位基因T使Ems发病风险提高2.061倍;CYP1B1基因密码子119G/T各基因型分布两组间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),纯合突变(T/T)基因型、杂合突变(G/T)基因型与野生型(G/G)基因型相比,患Ems的危险度分别为2.625倍和3.214倍.以CYP1B1联合野生型GG和CC个体的OR值为1相比,CYP1B基因密码子119杂合型突变(Ala/Ser)合并密码子432野生型个体的OR值为2.976,95%CI:1.129～7.848,P＜0.05.结论 CYP1B1基因第2外显子119(G-T)突变等位基因与Ems的发生有一定关系,突变基因型增加了Ems的发病风险;CYP1B1基因第2外显子杂合型突变(Ala/Ser)联合密码子432野生型能增加Ems的发病风险.     

Polymorphisms of the genes encoding the GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 in Korean women: no association with endometriosis

Endometriosis, one of the most common gynaecologic disorders, shows significantly elevated prevalence in industrial areas and there is also a possible genetic predisposition. Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are enzymes involved in the metabolism of many disease-causing carcinogens and mutagens that are present in human environments. An association between the incidence of endometriosis and the GST genotypes of patients has been suggested. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether the polymorphisms of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 are related to endometriosis. Blood samples were available from 259 controls and 194 patients with advanced endometriosis diagnosed by both pathology and laparoscopic findings. The proportion of the GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 genotypes of the control group were comparable to other populations. There was no significant evidence that the distribution of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotype differed between the patients and the controls, with an allelic odds ratio (OR)=1.074 [95% confidence interval (CI)=0.737-1.564] and 1.239 (95% CI = 0.853-1.799), respectively. Also, there was no significant difference in the proportion of GSTP1 genotypes between the women with endometriosis and the control group with the OR = 0.823 (95% CI = 0.536-1.264). The higher risk alleles were contended as GSTM1, GSTT1 null mutation and GSTP1 Ile105Ile polymorphism. There was no significant increase in the risk of endometriosis as the number of higher risk alleles of the GST family increased. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 genetic polymorphisms are not associated with the development of endometriosis in Korean women.     

Association between susceptibility to advanced stage endometriosis and the genetic polymorphisms of aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor and glutathione-S-transferase T1 genes

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to determine whether genetic polymorphisms of aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AhRR), glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione-S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) are associated with susceptibility to advanced stage endometriosis in a Korean population. METHODS: This study comprised 316 women with advanced stage endometriosis and 256 control women without endometriosis. Genotyping of the AhRR codon 185 was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotyping for gene deletions were carried out by multiplex PCR analysis. RESULTS: G allele frequency at codon 185 of AhRR was increased in patients with endometriosis (P=0.047), and there was a trend for an association of C/G+G/G genotypes with risk of endometriosis (P=0.06). The proportion of null mutation at GSTT1 also tended to increase (P=0.06) in patients with endometriosis, whereas there was no difference in the genotype distribution of GSTM1 genes. Analyzing AhRR and GSTT1 together, we found that patients with high-risk genotypes at both loci have increased risk of endometriosis, compared with patients without high-risk genotypes (P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the AhRR codon 185 and GSTT1 polymorphisms are associated with the risk of advanced stage endometriosis.     

CYP17, CYP1A1 and COMT polymorphisms and the risk of adenomyosis and endometriosis in Taiwanese women

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to test whether the COMT, CYP1A1 and CYP17 genes influence the risk of developing adenomyosis and endometriosis. METHODS: We conducted two case-control studies, where the cases (n = 198) had either of the two diseases, and controls (n = 312) were disease-free women. For the COMT gene, we selected the G/A nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that leads to valine-to-methionine (Val/Met) substitution. For the CYP1A1 gene, we used a functional T/C SNP in the 3'-noncoding region, and we genotyped a T/C functional SNP in the 5' region of the CYP17 gene for the present study. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was checked in both cases and controls. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the genetic effect, with adjustment for other covariates. RESULTS: We found that the homozygous COMT genotype that encodes low enzyme activity had an increased risk for adenomyosis with an age-adjusted odds ratio of 3.2 (95% confidence interval 1.3-7.8; P = 0.006). The COMT gene, however, was not associated with endometriosis. Neither the CYP1A1 nor CYP17 genes had any significant association with either of the two diseases. CONCLUSION: The COMT gene significantly influences the risk of adenomyosis but not endometriosis. The present study does not provide evidence to support any of the three genes exerting pleiotropic effects on both diseases.     

Genetic contribution of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha gene promoter (-1031, -863 and -857) and TNF receptor 2 gene polymorphisms in endometriosis susceptibility

PROBLEM: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is a major cytokine involved in inflammatory and immune function. The aim of this study was to investigate whether polymorphisms at positions -1031, -863 and -857 in the TNF gene promoter region (TNFA) and TNF receptor type 2 gene (TNFR2) are responsible in part for genetic susceptibility to endometriosis. METHODS OF STUDY: TNFA and TNFR2 polymorphisms were determined in 123 patients with endometriosis and 165 fertile healthy women by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - preferential homoduplex formation assay and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, respectively. RESULTS: The frequency of the TNFA-U01 haplotype was increased significantly in patients with endometriosis compared with controls (P = 0.045, OR = 1.45). The TNFA-U01 haplotype was strongly associated with HLA-B*0702. No difference was found in TNFR2 polymorphism between patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that TNFA promoter polymorphism was associated with susceptibility to endometriosis. However, this association was not independent of HLA-class I polymorphisms.     

Association of interleukin‐16 polymorphisms with disease progression and susceptibility in endometriosis

Interleukin‐16 (IL‐16) is a multifunctional pro‐inflammatory cytokine that was previously found in association with complex disorders, and it is now cleared that this cytokine plays a critical role in regulation of cellular functions such as homoeostasis. Due to the complexity of endometriosis and its resemblance to cancer, we designed present case–control study to determine the effects of genetic polymorphisms of the human IL‐16 gene on Iranian women's susceptibility to endometriosis. A total of 126 patients with endometriosis (stages I–IV) and 144 healthy women as control group were recruited to the study. We genotyped four single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL‐16 gene (rs11556218 T>G, rs4778889 T>C, rs4072111 C>T and rs1131445 C>T). Genotyping was performed using PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Our results showed that genotype distribution in two exonic polymorphisms including rs11556218 and rs4072111 was significantly different between Endometriosis patients and healthy individuals (P < 0.05). We have also found an association between rs4072111 and rs1131445 with progression to the severe stages (III–IV) of endometriosis (P < 0.05). Finally, we may conclude that IL‐16 gene polymorphisms are highly associated with increased risk of endometriosis and could be considered as a susceptibility factor for endometriosis.     

Variants of the CTLA4 gene that segregate with autoimmune diseases are not associated with endometriosis

An autoimmune etiology has been suggested for endometriosis mostly on the basis of an increased prevalence of autoimmune diseases in affected women. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA) 4 gene is recognized as a primary determinant for autoimmunity since specific polymorphisms have been associated with predisposition to most autoimmune disorders. This study was aimed to evaluate whether two variants of CTLA4 gene might be associated with endometriosis in an Italian population. We examined the +49A/G polymorphism and the CT60A/G dimorphism in n = 146 endometriosis subjects classified according to Holt and Weiss criteria. Controls were represented by n = 165 women without laparoscopic evidence of the disease. We found no statistically significant difference in the genotype frequencies between women with and without endometriosis. The proportion of the mutant G allele of the +49A/G polymorphism in the former and in the latter group resulted 34 and 30%, respectively. The proportion of the susceptible G allele of the CT60 A/G dimorphism resulted 51% in both groups. No association was demonstrated between the polymorphisms and the clinical forms of the disease and no susceptibility haplotypes were found. These findings suggest that endometriosis aetiology is not primarily associated with the development of CTLA4-linked autoimmunity.     

Polymorphisms in the estrogen synthesis and metabolism pathways and symptoms during the menopausal transition: observations from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms in the estrogen synthesis and metabolism pathways are associated with women's vasomotor symptom experiences during the menopausal transition. DESIGN: In 2002, a subset of women enrolled in the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study since 1990 (N = 174) provided a buccal smear for genotyping. Women were recruited by complete ascertainment of selected multiethnic neighborhoods in 1990. Participants were midlife women with a mean age of 53 years in 2005, well educated, employed, married, and represented a multiethnic population. Genotyping was done for the following polymorphisms: CYP1A1m2; CYP1B1*2 and CYP1B1*3; CYP17 5'UTR; CYP19 3'UTR; CYP19 (TTTA)n; including CYP19 7r and CYP19 7(r-3); CYP19 8r and CYP19 11r; and ESR1PvuII and ESR1XbaI. Women rated their vasomotor symptom severity in diaries on days 5, 6, and 7 of the menstrual cycle or on a constant date each month for women skipping periods. Menopausal transition stage was determined from daily menstrual calendars. First voided urine specimens provided several times each year were assayed for estrone glucuronide. RESULTS: Women with the CYP19 11r polymorphism reported more severe and frequent hot flashes during the middle and late menopausal transition stages and postmenopause and higher E1G levels during middle and late stages. None of the other polymorphisms studied were related to hot flashes or to estrone glucuronide levels. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a possible role for CYP19 polymorphisms in estrogen levels and in vasomotor symptoms during the menopausal transition that warrants further study in larger and more diverse populations of women.     

CYPl7、CYPlA2酶基因多态性与子宫内膜异位症的关系

目的探讨CYPl7 T-34C、CYPIA2 G-2964A基因多态性与子宫内膜异位症遗传易感性的关系。方法抽取108例确诊为子宫内膜异位症患者及84例对照组女性的静脉血,提取全基因组DNA,分别用聚合酶链式反应（PCR）技术扩增CYPl7 T-34C、CYPIA2 G-2964A多态位点的基因片段,并对其进行酶切,根据酶切结果计算出各等位基因的表型频率,用X2检验及OR值分析其多态性与子宫内膜异位症的关系。结果病例组和对照组CYPl7基因的基因型及等位基因的频率分布比较差异有统计学意义（P〈O.05）。病例组和对照组CYPIA2基因型、等位基因频率的比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论CYPl7 T-34C可能与III、IV期子宫内膜异位症发病风险相关。CYPlA2 G-2964A多态性可能不是子宫内膜异位症独立的危险因素。     

Interferon-gamma gene dinucleotide (CA) repeat and interleukin-4 promoter region (-590C/T) polymorphisms in Japanese patients with endometriosis

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a multifactorial disease with possible genetic predisposition and involvement of environmental factors in its pathogenesis. Cytokines may play important roles in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the interferon-gamma gene (IFNG) CA-repeat and interleukin-4 (IL-4) promoter region (-590C/T) polymorphisms may be responsible in part for genetic susceptibility to endometriosis. METHODS: IFNG CA-repeat and IL-4 -590C/T polymorphisms were determined for 185 patients with endometriosis and 176 healthy fertile women by quantitative genescan technology and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, respectively. Patients with endometriosis were analysed further according to their stage of disease, the presence or absence of chocolate cysts and whether or not their disease was associated with adenomyosis and/or lyomyomata. RESULTS: The global IFNG allele frequencies in the patients with endometriosis were significantly different from those in the control women (chi2 = 12.964, 6 df, P = 0.0436). The difference was due to an increase of the a13 (114 bp) allele in patients with endometriosis (chi2 = 10.222, P = 0.0088, corrected P = 0.0352, odds ratio = 1.48, 95% confidence interval = 1.10-1.98). There were no differences in IL-4 -590C/T genotypes and allele frequencies between control women and all patients with endometriosis or between control women and each subgroup of patients with endometriosis. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the IFNG CA-repeat polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to endometriosis in a Japanese population.