[Effect of folic acid in preventing aberrant methylation of fetal endometriosis susceptibility gene HOXA10].

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: The methylation rate of HOXA10 gene differed significantly between pregnant women with endometriosis taking folic acid and those who did (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Folic acid treatment can significantly reduce the methylation rate of fetal endometriosis susceptibility gene HOXA10.