Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and its coactivator-1alpha gene polymorphisms in Korean women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate whether the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) Pro12Ala and the PPAR-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha) Gly482Ser polymorphisms were associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS

Genetic analyses of the PPAR-gamma Pro12Ala and the PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser polymorphisms were performed in 184 patients with PCOS and 256 controls. Hormone levels, biochemical and clinical features were analyzed according to these polymorphisms.

RESULTS

Neither the PPAR-gammaPro12Ala nor the PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser polymorphism showed significant differences in genotypic distribution between women with PCOS and controls. In PCOS patients, women with the non-Pro/Pro genotypes of the PPAR-gamma Pro12Ala polymorphism showed statistically significantly higher HDL levels than those with the Pro/Pro genotype (p = 0.002). PCOS patients who had the Ser/Ser genotype of the PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser polymorphism had significantly higher levels of postprandial 2-hour insulin than those with the Gly/Ser genotype (p = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

Neither the PPAR-gammaPro12Ala nor the PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser polymorphism were supposed to be susceptible genes in PCOS. However, in PCOS patients, the PPAR-gammaPro12Ala and the PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser polymorphism may modulate the concentrations of serum HDL levels and postprandial 2-hour insulin level, respectively.