Abstract
Insulin resistance is allegedly a target pathophysiological mechanism in the pathogenesis
of polycystic ovary syndrome. Moreover, this metabolic alteration is possibly genetically
determined. In view of the recent evidence implicating genetic variants of the renin-angiotensin
system as candidates in several metabolic disorders, we investigated the allele and
genotype frequencies of the A1166 C polymorphism of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor
in relation with various metabolic and biochemical parameters in affected females
trying to asses its role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. The study was conducted
on 83 females of which 39 females served as the control group. The participants were
matched for age, body mass index and degree of obesity. For all subjects biochemical
parameters were assayed including soluble CD40 ligand together with fasting glucose
and insulin which were used for calculation of insulin resistance indices, Genotyping
performed using real time polymerase chain reaction revealed that the C allele frequency
and the AC genotype were less frequently observed in patients compared to controls,
however this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.146). Lack of the C
allele was associated with adverse metabolic parameters including higher rate of insulin
resistance as well as solubes CD40 ligand in the patients group. Results of the current
study support a causative role for the A1166 C polymorphism of the angiotensin II
type 1 gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis or phenotypic expression of polycystic
ovary syndrome.
Key words
A1166C angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene polymorphism - real time polymerase chain
reaction - insulin resistance indices - soluble CD40L