Polymorphism in the insulin-like growth factor 1 gene is associated with age at menarche in caucasian females.
BACKGROUND
The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene, which plays a crucial role in hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian hormone-controlled metabolic processes, may influence the onset of menarche. Our study aimed to test association between IGF1 polymorphisms with the variation of age at menarche (AAM) in Caucasian females.


METHODS
We recruited a sample of 1048 females from 354 Caucasian nuclear families and genotyped 19 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning the entire IGF1 gene. Pairwise linkage disequilibrium among SNPs was measured, and the haplotype blocks were inferred. Both single SNP markers and haplotypes were tested for association with AAM using the quantitative transmission disequilibrium test.


RESULTS
Significant association (P = 0.0153) between AAM and SNP3 (rs6214) in block1 was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggested a potential effect of SNP3 in the IGF1 gene on AAM variation in Caucasian women for the first time. However, further independent studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Zhao
Jian
J
The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, Ministry of Education and Institute of Molecular Genetics, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China.
Xiong
Dong-Hai
DH
Guo
Yan
Y
Yang
Tie-Lin
TL
Recker
Robert R
RR
Deng
Hong-Wen
HW
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics*; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008572:Menarche / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I