title: Analysis of CTLA4 gene variant in infertile Brazilian women with and without endometriosis.
abstract: An autoimmune aetiology has been suggested for endometriosis mostly on the basis of an increased prevalence of autoimmune diseases in affected women. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA) 4 gene is recognized as a primary determinant for autoimmunity, since specific polymorphisms have been associated with predisposition to most autoimmune disorders. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate CTLA4 polymorphism (+49A/G) in a group of infertile women with and without endometriosis and controls. Case-control study comprising 244 infertile women (177 with endometriosis and 67 without endometriosis) and 172 fertile women as controls. CTLA4 polymorphism was identified by qPCR. The results were analysed statistically and a P-value <0.05 was considered significant. We found relatively similar CTLA4 polymorphisms genotype frequencies in women with and without endometriosis and controls (P=0.158 and P=0.262, respectively). When the patients with minimal/mild endometriosis and moderate/severe endometriosis were studied separately, no difference was also found related to controls (P=0.560 and P=0.11, respectively). The data suggest that the CTLA4 polymorphism is not associated with endometriosis and/or infertility in Brazilian women.
authors: Division of Pathological Gynecology and Human Reproduction, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Avenida Príncipe de Gales 821, Santo André/SP, Brazil.
authors: T G
authors: TG
authors: Lerner
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Bianco
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Teles
authors: F L
authors: FL
authors: Vilarino
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Christofolini
authors: C P
authors: CP
authors: Barbosa