Effect of folic acid in preventing aberrant methylation of fetal endometriosis susceptibility gene HOXA10 / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect aberrant methylation in the promoter region of fetal endometriosis susceptibility gene homeobox-10 (HOXA10) in women with and without folic acid supplementation and explore the effect of folic acid in optimizing intrauterine environment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six cord blood specimens were collected between January, 2010 and December, 2012 from pregnant women with endometriosis, including 22 with folic acid treatment and 15 without. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and bisulfite salt modified sequencing (BSP) were employed to detect aberrant methylation of HOXA10 gene in these specimens.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The methylation rate of HOXA10 gene differed significantly between pregnant women with endometriosis taking folic acid and those who did (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Folic acid treatment can significantly reduce the methylation rate of fetal endometriosis susceptibility gene HOXA10.</p>