Association between premature ovarian failure, polymorphisms in MTHFR and MTRR genes and serum homocysteine concentration

Abstract

This study investigated the association between premature ovarian failure (POF), MTHFR C677T/A1298C and MTRR A66G genotypes and serum homocysteine (Hcy) concentration. A prospective study was conducted in Chinese women, which included POF patients (n = 180) and controls (n = 195). Peripheral blood samples were used to determine MTHFR C677T/A1298C and MTRR A66G genotypes, and serum Hcy and sex hormone concentrations. Results showed that serum Hcy concentrations of POF patients were significantly higher than those of controls (P < 0.0001). In POF patients, serum Hcy concentrations were significantly correlated with oestradiol and FSH concentrations (r = -0.174, P = 0.037 and r = +0.238, P = 0.006, respectively). There were no significant differences in the distributions of MTHFR C677T/A1298C or MTRR A66G genotypes between the two groups. However, these genetic variants influenced serum Hcy concentrations in POF patients, especially for MTRR 66 AA/AG/GG genotypes, which were significantly correlated with the patients' Hcy concentrations (τ = 0.166, P = 0.033). These results suggest that serum Hcy concentrations in Chinese POF patients are increased and correlated with serum oestradiol/FSH concentrations. In conclusion, MTHFR C667T/A1298C and MTRR A66G genotypes are not associated with POF development, but they affect the patients' serum Hcy concentrations.

Keywords: MTHFR; MTRR; gene polymorphism; homocysteine; premature ovarian failure.