NUCB2 gene polymorphism and its relationship with nesfatin-1 levels in polycystic ovary syndrome

Nesfatin-1, encoded by the nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2) gene, is an anorexigenic protein related to energy metabolism, obesity, and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate NUCB2 gene polymorphism (rs757081) and its association with serum levels of nesfatin-1 in obese and non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In the study population, we analyzed 60 patients with PCOS and 26 age-matched healthy women as controls. The patients with PCOS were divided into two groups based on body mass index (BMI): obese group (n=28) or non-obese group (n=32). NUCB2 was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction (PCR) technique. Serum nesfatin-1 level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Nesfatin-1 levels in the obese PCOS group were significantly lower than those in the non-obese PCOS and control groups (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of NUCB2 genotypes among the groups (p>0.05), whereas nesfatin-1 levels in the CC and CG genotypes were lower than those in the GG genotype. Nesfatin-1 decreases in PCOS, especially in obese women, and is negatively correlated with cardiometabolic risk factors. Although genotype disturbances of NUCB2 were similar among the groups, CC and CG genotypes accompanied lower nesfatin-1 levels. C allele of NUCB2 gene polymorphism and nesfatin-1 may play a role in the pathophysiology of PCOS.