Analysis of the methylation rate of theandrogen receptor promoter region ingranulosa cells in moderate to severeendometriosis patients undergoing controlledovarian hyperstimulation

Background: To investigate the effect of the methylation rate of the androgen receptor (AR) promoter region in granulosa cells in patients with endometriosisinduced infertility. Method: Eighteen patients with moderate to severe endometriosis and a control group of 24 patients without endometriosis who underwent assisted reproductive technologies (ART) were investigated. Genomic DNA was extracted from granulosa cells and subjected to bisulfite treatment. The methylation rate of the AR promoter region was compared between the endometriosis group and the control group, and the relationship between clinical outcome and the methylation rate of the AR promoter region was investigated using real-time methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). The MSP data was confirmed using bisulfite sequencing. Results: Antral follicle count (AFC) and number of retrieved oocytes was lower in the endometriosis group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The methylation rate of the AR promoter region was statistically higher in the endometriosis group than in the control group; moreover, the methylation rate was negatively correlated with AFC and the number of retrieved oocytes. Conclusion: A higher methylation rate of the AR promoter region in granulosa cells could contribute to poor follicular development in endometriosis.