Genetic variation in pentraxin (PTX) 3 gene associates with PTX3 production and fertility in women.
Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) plays an important role in innate immune responses and in female fertility, as discovered with studies in mice. However, the role of PTX3 in human fertility is unknown. Here, we report on a population-based study from a rural area of Upper East Ghana (n = 4346). We studied the association between the number of children given birth by women during their lifetime and ex vivo, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced PTX3 production (n = 362). In addition, we studied the association of genetic variation in the PTX3 gene with PTX3 production (n = 617) and with female fertility (n = 1999). We found that ex vivo LPS-induced PTX3 production was associated with fertility (P = 0.040). Furthermore, we identified genetic variants in the PTX3 gene that influence PTX3 production, and also fertility. The strongest associations were observed for the rs6788044 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). We found that carriers of this SNP had higher PTX3 production capacity (P = 0.003) and higher fertility (P = 0.043). The results reported here provide the first evidence, based on protein production and analysis of polymorphisms, that the long pentraxin PTX3 plays a role in female fertility in humans.
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Linda
L
May
Maris
M
Kuningas
David
D
van Bodegom
Hans J
HJ
Meij
Marijke
M
Frolich
P Eline
PE
Slagboom
Alberto
A
Mantovani
Rudi G J
RG
Westendorp
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012424:Rural Population; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D000099153:Pentraxins
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins