[Study on the relationship between a polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene and the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between -308 bp polymorphism in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene promoter region and the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).


METHODS
One hundred eighteen Chinese women with PCOS (44 were obese, and 74 nonobese) and 54 controls were genotyped according to the fragment length [87 bp and(or) 107 bp] of TNF-alpha gene promoter by the technique of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The distribution of TNF1 genotype (87/87) and TNF2 genotype (87/107 + 107/107) in the two groups and their relations to parameters of glucose metabolism associated with PCOS were compared.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the distribution of TNF1 and TNF2 genotypes between PCOS group and the controls (P > 0.05). In obese PCOS group, only significant lower insulin sensitivity index was found in TNF-1 genotype as compared with TNF2 genotype (P < 0.05). In nonobese PCOS group, there was no significant difference in all parameters of glucose metabolism between TNF1 and TNF2 genotype. All parameters of glucose metabolism in obese patients with TNF1 genotype were significantly different from those in nonobese with TNF1 genotype. However, significant differences were found only in some parameters when comparison was made between obese and nonobese within the TNF2 genotype group.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no association between TNF-alpha gene -308 bp polymorphism and the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome, but PCOS patients with TNF2 genotype may associate with improvement to certain degree on abnormal glucose tolerance usually existed in obese PCOS women.
Mao
W
W
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Third School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100083, China.
Yu
L
L
Chen
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005947:Glucose