Association of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme gene polymorphism in Pakistani women with the atypical steroidogenesis in Polycystic ovarian syndrome: A case-control study

ACE I/D gene polymorphisms and polycystic ovary syndrome manifestations

Objective

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common multifactorial endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. ACE enzyme is involved in the physiopathology of the ovarian system, and there are inconsistencies between studies regarding the association between ACE gene variants and PCOS. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between ACE I/D gene polymorphisms and PCOS, as well as its clinical manifestations, in Iranian women with PCOS.

Design

This study included 140 patients with PCOS and 153 controls without the disease. Samples were collected from Yas Hospital Complex in Tehran-Iran during 2018 to 2022. Genomic DNA was obtained from whole blood samples using salt extraction, and genotyping was carried out using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

Variants of DD, ID, and II were observed in 31.4, 44.3, and 24.3% of PCOS, and 38.6, 44.1, and 17.2% of control group, respectively. The frequency of ACE gene variants did not differ between PCOS patients and control group. A significant difference was observed between the frequency of elevated LH to FSH ratio > 2 and ACE gene polymorphisms in patients with PCOS (OR: 0.32 (0.12-0.88), P value 0.024) with lower frequency observed in D allele carriers.

Conclusion

This study indicate that although ACE I/D variants frequency in PCOS women is similar to non-PCOS women, it may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease through mechanisms regulating steroidogenesis in the ovary and suggests that ACE might be related to exacerbated clinical manifestations of PCOS which requires further investigations.

Association analysis and expression level of ace polymorphisms with egg-laying trait in Taihang chicken

The number of egg-laying is an important indicator of reproduction performance in poultry breeding. To investigate the relationship between the function of Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and egg-laying performance of Taihang chicken, the mRNA and protein expression and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of ACE were detected. Analysis of ACE bioinformatics and association analysis of polymorphisms were then performed. The polymorphisms analysis of ACE showed that three SNP loci (g.5066812A>C, g.5080076G>A, and g.5072728A>G) were detected in 800 Taihang chickens with egg-laying records. Association analysis of egg-laying found that ACE g.5066812A>C mutation was significantly associated with the egg-laying performance of Taihang chickens (P < 0.05), and the individuals with the g.5066812A>C mutation showed significantly increasing egg-laying. The mRNA expression was significantly higher in individuals with the AA genotype mutation than those with the AC and CC genotypes (P < 0.01), and the expression of ACE protein levels was consistent with the mRNA expression. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that these mutations affected the secondary and tertiary structure of ACE. This study provides new insights into ACE affecting chicken egg production and some basis for improving the egg production rate of Taihang chickens.

The Effect of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) I/D Polymorphism on Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiovascular Mortality Risk in Non-Hemodialyzed Chronic Kidney Disease: The Mediating Role of Plasma ACE Level

The association between angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D) polymorphisms and plasma ACE levels may allow for the optimization of a preventive intervention to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population. In this study, we aimed to analyze the association between ACE I/D polymorphism and cardiovascular mortality risk among non-hemodialyzed chronic kidney disease patients. This cross-sectional study examined 70 patients of Javanese ethnic origin with stable CKD who did not receive hemodialysis. ACE I/D polymorphisms, plasma ACE levels, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, and cardiovascular mortality risk were investigated. As per our findings, the I allele was found to be more frequent (78.6) than the D allele (21.4), and the DD genotype was less frequent than the II genotype (4.3 vs. 61.4). The ACE I/D polymorphism had a significant direct positive effect on plasma ACE levels (path coefficient = 0.302, p = 0.021). Similarly, plasma ACE levels had a direct and significant positive effect on the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (path coefficient = 0.410, p = 0.000). Moreover, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk had a significant positive effect on cardiovascular mortality risk (path coefficient = 0.918, p = 0.000). The ACE I/D polymorphism had no direct effect on ASCVD and cardiovascular mortality risk. However, our findings show that the indirect effects of high plasma ACE levels may be a factor in the increased risk of ASCVD and cardiovascular mortality in Javanese CKD patients.