BACKGROUND/AIMS

Post-menopausal and hormone-related diseases are the biggest problems for women on which genetic and environmental factors have an effect.

MATERIALS and METHODS

In this study, the methylation status of ESRRA (Estrogen Related Receptor Alpha) and PTH (Parathyroid Hormone) promoters was analyzed in 30 pre-menopausal and 35 post-menopausal women by using MS-HRM (Methylation Sensitive-High Resolution Melting). The height (cm) and weight (kg) of each participant were measured. The statistical analyses were performed and their associations with patient characteristics were evaluated by Pearson’s chi-squared test, two-tailed Fisher's exact test, and Mann–Whitney U test (p<0.05).

RESULTS

The PTH gene was methylated in four post-menopausal cases (11.4%) and unmethylated in 31 cases (88.6%). The ESRRA gene was methylated in six post-menopausal cases (17.1%) and unmethylated in 29 cases (82.9%). There were no significant differences between post-menopause and PTH methylation (p>0.005); however, a statistically significant association was detected between post-menopause and unmethylation of ESRRA (p=0.040). Also, no significant differences were detected between body mass index (BMI) and methylation parameters.

CONCLUSION

Estrogen plays a significant role in the regulation of skeletal homeostasis, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and the central nervous system. Researchers showed the relationship among ESRRA, BMI, and fat percentage in animal models. However, we did not find any statistically significant relationship between ESRRA methylation and BMI in post-menopausal women. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the relationship between the methylation of PTH and ESRRA genes, and BMI in post-menopausal cases. Future epigenetic studies will help to clarify potential effects of gene methylation in post-menopause.

Keywords: Body mass index, estrogen related receptor alpha, methylation, parathyroid hormone, post-menopause