Androgen receptor gene CAG repeat length in women with metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
The length of the androgen receptor gene CAG repeat [AR (CAG)(n)] modulates the activity of the androgen receptor (AR), and this polymorphism has been shown to modulate body fat mass and serum concentrations of insulin in men. We hypothesized that shorter AR (CAG)(n) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MBS) or its components in women.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional controlled study we studied 52 Finnish women aged 34-55 years with MBS and 69 age-matched controls. All participants were recruited from a sample of women drawn from the Finnish population register. We compared the mean AR (CAG)(n) in the two groups. Furthermore, we correlated the AR (CAG)(n) with serum testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and several parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism in each group and in all 121 women.


RESULTS
There was no difference in the biallelic mean AR (CAG)(n) between the MBS and the control group (21.6+/-0.2 vs. 21.8+/-0.2, not significant). The AR (CAG)(n) did not correlate significantly with any of the clinical or biochemical parameters of glucose or fat metabolism. However, it correlated negatively with serum testosterone (-0.195, p = 0.04) and androstenedione concentrations (-0.205, p = 0.03) in all studied women.


CONCLUSIONS
The AR (CAG)(n) is not a major determinant of MBS in women but it contributes to ovarian androgen production.
Jääskeläinen
Jarmo
J
Department of Pediatrics, University of Kuopio and Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Korhonen
Seija
S
Kuulasmaa
Tiina
T
Kurl
Sangita
S
Niskanen
Leo
L
Vanhala
Matti
M
Hippeläinen
Maritta
M
Voutilainen
Raimo
R
Heinonen
Seppo
S
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004247:DNA