Associations of Leptin Receptor and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Polymorphisms with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Previous studies on associations of leptin receptor (LEPR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) polymorphisms with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) yielded conflicting results. Objectives: In this meta-analysis, we aimed to better analyze the relationship between LEPR/PPARG polymorphisms and PCOS in a larger pooled population. Methods: We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and CNKI. We calculated pooled ORs and 95% CIs to estimate associations between LEPR/PPARG polymorphisms and PCOS. Results: Totally, 33 eligible studies were included. A significant association with susceptibility to PCOS was observed for LEPR rs1137101 polymorphism under recessive genetic model (p = 0.002, OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.26-2.78, I-2 = 42%) and for PPARG rs1801282 polymorphism under dominant (p = 0.007, OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.05-1.36, I-2 = 49%), overdominant (p = 0.02, OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.97, I-2 = 48%), and allele (p = 0.006, OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.05-1.33, I-2 = 47%) genetic models in overall population. Further subgroup analyses by ethnicity revealed that LEPR rs1137101 and PPARG rs3856806 polymorphisms were both significantly associated with susceptibility to PCOS in Asians. No any positive results were detected in overall and subgroup analyses. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggested that LEPR rs1137101, PPARG rs1801282, and rs3856806 polymorphisms were all significantly associated with individual susceptibility to PCOS in certain populations.