Aims: This study aimed to examine the methylation status of the CYP19A1 promoter region in Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.
Methods: A case-control study was designed that involved 10 PCOS patients and 10 controls. Ovary tissues obtained from 10 women with PCOS and 10 healthy controls were matched for body mass index and age. Methylation of CYP19A1 promoter was detected by methylation-specific PCR. CYP19A1 expression was measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting.
Results: The methylation level of CYP19A1 promoter in PCOS samples was significantly higher than in controls (0.698 ± 0.192 vs. 0.210 ± 0.064, p < 0.01). A significant downregulation of CYP19A1 mRNA and protein expression levels was observed in PCOS ovary tissues. Furthermore, the scatter plot revealed that promoter methylation was inversely correlated with CYP19A1 mRNA level (Pearson's correlation -0.820, p < 0.01).
Conclusion: CYP19A1 expression is frequently repressed in PCOS ovaries due to the promoter hypermethylation. CYP19A1 promoter hypermethylation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of PCOS. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.