[Association between polymorphism of CYP17 gene and serum hormone concentrations in aged men].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between polymorphism of CYP17 gene and serum hormone concentrations in aged men.


METHODS
Eighty-three healthy men at the average age of 66.7 were divided into a < 66.7 group (n = 36) and a > 66.7 group (n = 47), and the polymorphism of CYP17 gene in the 5' promoter region was investigated by PCR using DNA from the men's peripheral blood lymphocytes. A new recognition site was created for the restriction enzyme MspA1 I by transition (T --> C) in the risk allele (A2). Three genotypes A1/A1, A1/A2, A2/A2 were established, serum sex-hormone levels measured, and mean hormone concentration evaluated in each genotype and age group.


RESULTS
No evidence was found that the testosterone (T) level, estrogen (E2) level and T/E2 ratio were associated with the genotype of CYP17 gene. There was no significant difference in T and E2 levels between the two groups, but there was a significant increase in the T/E2 ratio (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A2 allele does not increase sex hormone levels in aged men, but the T/E, ratio was higher in the > 66.7 group than in the < 66.7 group. This may be closely associated with the mechanism of benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer in aged men.
Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, China. wjq68@bjmu.edu.cn
Jun-Qi
JQ
Wang
Xiang
X
Gu
Jia-Cun
JC
Chen
Xiao-Qing
XQ
Sun
Hong-Tao
HT
Mu
Zeng-He
ZH
Wei
Ming
M
Li
Dian-Qi
DQ
Xin
Yan-Qun
YQ
Na
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase