Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ and Its Coactivator-1α Gene Polymorphisms in Korean Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background/Aims: To investigate whether the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) Pro12Ala and the PPAR-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) Gly482Ser polymorphisms were associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Genetic analyses of the PPAR-γ Pro12Ala and the PGC-1α Gly482Ser polymorphisms were performed in 184 patients with PCOS and 256 controls. Hormone levels, biochemical and clinical features were analyzed according to these polymorphisms. Results: Neither the PPAR-γPro12Ala nor the PGC-1α Gly482Ser polymorphism showed significant differences in genotypic distribution between women with PCOS and controls. In PCOS patients, women with the non-Pro/Pro genotypes of the PPAR-γ Pro12Ala polymorphism showed statistically significantly higher HDL levels than those with the Pro/Pro genotype (p = 0.002). PCOS patients who had the Ser/Ser genotype of the PGC-1α Gly482Ser polymorphism had significantly higher levels of postprandial 2-hour insulin than those with the Gly/Ser genotype (p = 0.045). Conclusions: Neither the PPAR-γPro12Ala nor the PGC-1α Gly482Ser polymorphism were supposed to be susceptible genes in PCOS. However, in PCOS patients, the PPAR-γPro12Ala and the PGC-1α Gly482Ser polymorphism may modulate the concentrations of serum HDL levels and postprandial 2-hour insulin level, respectively.