Species: human
Mutation name: None
type: naturally occurring
fertility: subfertile
Comment: Independent Confirmation of Association between Metabolic Phenotypes of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Variation in the Type 6 17{beta}-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Gene. Jones MR et al. Context: Few candidate genes for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are widely agreed upon largely due to lack of replication. Type 6 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD17B6) gene expression is increased in PCOS ovarian theca. Previous genetic study of HSD17B6 reported significant association of rs898611 with PCOS risk and metabolic phenotypes. Objective: Our objective was to replicate association between polymorphisms in HSD17B6 and PCOS in a well-characterized replication cohort. Design: We conducted a case-control association study. Setting: Subjects were recruited from reproductive endocrinology clinics; controls were recruited from the surrounding communities of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Genotyping occurred at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Participants: Participants included 335 White women with PCOS and 198 White controls. Main Measurements: We assessed HSD17B6 genotype, PCOS status, and metabolic traits. Results: The minor allele of rs898611 was not associated with PCOS; however, it was associated with increased body mass index (P = 0.031), increased fasting insulin (P = 0.008), decreased fasting glucose/insulin ratio (P = 0.038), and increased homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (P = 0.021). rs10459247 and rs10876920 were associated with increased fasting insulin (P = 0.031 and 0.019, respectively), and rs10876920 was also associated with increased HOMA-IR (P = 0.046). Haplotype T-A-T-C was associated with reduced fasting insulin (P = 0.046), and haplotype C-A-C-T was associated with increased body mass index (P = 0.032). Conclusions: Although we did not replicate association between PCOS and rs898611, we replicated associations of this variant and others in HSD17B6 with metabolic traits. These replication data suggest a role for HSD17B6 in PCOS. How HSD17B6, an enzyme involved in steroid metabolism, may influence BMI and insulin resistance in PCOS remains to be determined.