Analysis of aromatase (CYP19) gene in Iranian women with endometriosis

Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory, estrogen dependent disease that affects up to 10% of all women of fertile age. It is characterized by the presence and proliferation of functional endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. The aim of this study was to assess whether intron 4 (TTTA)n repeat and TCT deletion/insertion polymorphisms of CYP19 gene are associated with endometriosis in northern Iran. This study involved 110 patients with endometriosis and 200 healthy controls, who were genotyped for (TTTA) repeats in the fourth intron of the CYP19 gene. Genomic DNA from patients and controls was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of eight alleles were observed in our study population, ranging from 7 repeats to 13 repeats. (TTTA) repeat lengths of ⩽9 were classified as short (S), and those ⩾10 were classified as long (L). Compared to women who possessed the S/S genotype, those who carried L/L (OR, 5.56; 95% CI, 3.33–9.29) had significantly increased risk of endometriosis. There was a significant trend between L/L genotype and higher stage of endometriosis (P<0.001). In conclusion, a significant association was identified between endometriosis and the CYP19 gene polymorphism, with endometriosis having longer CYP19 repeat lengths than control subjects. The strong association of CYP19 gene polymorphism with high-stage endometriosis suggests that CYP19 may have a prognostic implication.