Association study between catechol-O-methyltransferase polymorphisms and uterine leiomyomas in a Japanese population
Morikawa, J.; Yoshida, S.; Kennedy, S.; Takemura, N.; Sugimoto, M.; Kitao, K.; Deguchi, M.; Ohara, N.; Maruo, T.
Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology 35(1): 35-40
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0390-6663 PMID: 18390078 Document Number: 620427
To investigate a possible association between uterine leiomyomas and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphisms in a Japanese population. We compared the allele frequencies and genotype distributions of the exon 4 NlaIII restriction site polymorphism (RSP), the P2 promoter HindIII RSP at -1217, and the exon 6 BglI RSP in the COMT gene in 250 leiomyoma cases and 182 controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis. No significant differences in allele frequencies and genotype distributions of the exon 4 NlaIII RSP, the P2 promoter HindIII RSP at -1217, and the exon 6 BglI RSP were found between uterine leiomyoma cases and controls. Moreover, no associations were noted between these three polymorphisms in COMT genes and leiomyoma size or a family history of uterine leiomyomas. COMT gene polymorphisms are unlikely to be associated with an increased risk of uterine leiomyomas in a Japanese population.