Study On The Association Of CTLA-4 Gene Microsatellite Polymorphism With Endometriosis And Adenomyosis

Objective: To investigate the association of CTLA-4 gene microsatellite polymorphism with endometriosis and adenomyosis.Methods: The polymorphic (AT)n repeats in the 3'untranslated region of exon-4 of CTLA-4 gene[CTLA-4(AT)n] was detemined by short tendem repeat polymerase chain reaction (STR-PCR) method in 56 cases of endometriosis patients , 31 cases of adenomyosis patients and 35 cases of controls, with primes 5'-GCC AGT GAT GCT AAA GGT TG-3'and 5'- AAC ATA CGT GGC TCT ATG CA -3'. The amplified products were electrophoresed by 8% polyacrylamid gel and followed by 0.1% silver staining. Some of the amplified products were sequenced directly.Results: 12 alleles of the (AT)n repeats in the 3'untranslated region of exon-4 of CTLA-4 gene were found in endometriosis patients, 12 alleles in adenomyosis patients. The frequency of 120bp allele in endometriosis patients was significantly higher than that in adenomyosis patients and in controls(P<0.05). The frequencies of all alleles in adenomyosis were not significant difference with those in controls (P>0.05). The frequency of 120bp allele in the clinical stages of endometriosis was not significant difference(P>0.05).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the polymorphic (AT)n repeats in the 3'untranslated region of exon-4 of CTLA-4 gene is associated with endometriosis. CTLA-4(AT)n repeats 120bp may be the susceptible gene in endometriosis patients.