Ozegowska Katarzyna, Bogacz Anna, Bartkowiak-Wieczorek Joanna, Seremak-Mrozikiewicz Agnieszka, Pawelczyk Leszek

Department of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60535 Poznan, Poland.| Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants, 61707 Poznan, Poland.| Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants, 61707 Poznan, Poland.| Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Division of Perinatology and Women's Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60535 Poznan, Poland.| Department of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60535 Poznan, Poland.

Mol Med Rep. 2016 Dec;14(6):5401-5407. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5910. Epub 2016 Oct

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. A number of PCOS complications may be associated with the elevated level of angiotensin II and low bradykinin concentrations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequencies of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms in women with PCOS and to determine the association between ACE genetic variants and the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular complications in such women. A total of 138 PCOS patients and 110 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Cardiovascular risk was estimated according to the criteria of the American Heart Association and Androgen Excess and PCOS Society. The median average age was 28.5 (26.031.0) and 27.0 (24.030.0) years in the control and PCOS groups, respectively (P=0.004). Anthropometric parameters, including body mass index and waist circumference were significantly higher in the PCOS patients. In the PCOS group, 97 (57.4%) of the subjects were metabolically unhealthy, whereas, in the control group 51 (46.4%) subjects were (P=0.07). The II, ID, and DD genotypes frequencies were 29.1, 44.5, and 26.4% in the controls and 5.0, 37.7, and 57.3% in the PCOS patients. The cardioprotective I allele was observed significantly less frequently in the women with PCOS compared with the controls [odds ratio (OR), 3.27; P=0.0001]. The DD genotype, which is known to increase cardiovascular risk, was more frequently observed in PCOS patients (OR, 3.87; P=0.0003), whereas the cardioprotective II genotype occurred in this group less frequently (OR, 0.4; P=0.06). The results of the present study demonstrated a statistically significant association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and the presence and intensity of metabolic disturbances in women with PCOS.

Koika Vasiliki, Georgopoulos Neoklis A, Piouka Athanasia, Roupas Nikolaos D, Karela Anastasia, Armeni Anastasia K, Katsantoni Eleni, Panidis Dimitrios

Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Patras Medical School, University Hospital, Patras, Greece.

Eur J Endocrinol. 2012 Apr;166(4):695-702. doi: 10.1530/EJE-11-0894. Epub 2012

OBJECTIVE: The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common and complex disease with unclear pattern of inheritance, characterized by an androgen excess, while hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance (IR) are common features of the syndrome. The angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) insertion (I)/deletion (D) gene polymorphism was proved to be involved in many pathophysiological conditions, including hypertension and IR. DESIGN: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the involvement of the ACE gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of PCOS.
METHODS: In a case-control association study involving 801 PCOS women and 266 healthy controls, hormonal determinations and ACE polymorphism genotyping were performed. The PCOS women were classified into three groups: Group A presented biochemical hyperandrogenism, combined with anovulation and polycystic ovarian morphology; Group B, clinical hyperandrogenism combined with anovulation and polycystic ovarian morphology; and Group C, chronic anovulation and polycystic ovarian morphology.
RESULTS: A significant increase in the frequency of the DI genotype of the ACE polymorphism was detected in PCOS women as a whole (P=0.035), in PCOS Group A (P=0.039) and Group B (P=0.010), while there was no difference in Group C (P=0.939). Significant difference was also observed in hyperandrogenic PCOS women as a whole (Group A+B) (P=0.017). The II genotype was positively correlated with HOMA-IR and QUICKI and with fasting insulin and glucose/insulin ratio in these groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The association study of the ACE I/D polymorphism in PCOS women demonstrates an increase in the DI genotype incidence and an association of the II genotype with IR.