Association of Luteinizing hormone and LH receptor gene polymorphism with susceptibility of Polycystic ovary syndrome

ABSTRACT

Altered folliculogenesis and reproductive anomalies in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) suggest that variations of genes involved in folliculogenesis might influence etiopathogenesis of this syndrome. The objective of this study was to assess the association of LHβ (rs1056917) and lutropin receptor (LHR) (rs61996318) polymorphism with polycystic ovarian syndrome and to interrelate the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) with severity of clinical manifestations of PCOS. Three hundred women of reproductive age were enrolled in this retrospective case-control study. Rotterdam Criteria was used to diagnose PCOS patients. Nucleotide mutations of LH and LHR gene was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. High LH levels were found in 88% of PCOS patients. LHβ TC and CC genotypes were significantly associated with PCOS risk (OR [odds ratio] 13.95, CI [confidence interval] 6.30–30.86, p < 0.0001 and OR 3.31, CI 1.30–8.41, p = 0.01). The frequency of the C allele was 0.31 in PCOS and 0.02 in controls (OR 18.80, CI 8.54–41.37, p < 0.0001). LHR CA and AA genotype conferred a significant risk in development of PCOS (OR 5.07, CI 2.50–10.31, p < 0.0001). The frequency of the A allele was 0.51 in PCOS and 0.03 in controls (OR 26.62, CI 13.99–50.65, p < 0.0001). The results show an association between polymorphism of LHβ, LHR and PCOS, indicating that variants of these genes may affect the metabolic pathways involved in this syndrome. Majority of the affected women were found to have elevated LH levels. This study sheds new light in the diagnosis, treatment and management of PCOS syndrome.

Abbreviations: AUC: area under curve; BMI: body mass index; C: cholesterol; CI: confidence interval; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; DHEAS: dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; FG: Ferriman–Gallway; FSH: follicle stimulating hormone; GHQ: general health questionnaire; HA: hyperandrogenism; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HOMA-IR: homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance; HWR: hip waist ratio; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LH: luteinizing hormone; LH: luteinizing hormone; LHR: lutropin receptor; O: oligomenorrhea; OR: odds ratio; PCO: polycystic ovaries; PCO: polycystic ovary; PCOS: polycystic ovary syndrome; PCR: polymerase chain reaction; ROC: receiver operating curve; SBP: systolic blood pressure; SE: standard error of coefficient; SNP: single nucleotide polymorphism; TG: triglycerides; TSH: thyroid stimulating hormone; VD: vitamin D

KEYWORDS:

• Luteinizing hormone
• PCOS
• luteinizing hormone receptor
• polymorphism
• PCR-RFLP

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to PGIMS for providing access to labs and patient clinic and to all the participants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Author’s contributions

Designed the experiments: ASD; performed the experiments and wrote the manuscript: RD; analyzed the data: SN.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This study was not funded by any agency or grant.