3’UTR polymorphism of Thymidylate Synthase gene increased the risk of persistence of pre-neoplastic cervical lesions

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is caused by high-risk Human Papillomavirus (hr-HPV) infection associated with cofactors that has been analyzed as predictors of the remission or persistence of cytological abnormalities remission or persistence. These cofactors can be either environmental, epigenetic, or genetic. Polymorphism in genes of enzymes that act on one-carbon metabolism alter their activity and also may be associated with cervical carcinogenesis because they affect DNA synthesis and repair, and gene expression. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the risk of persistence of pre-neoplastic cervical lesions according to genetic polymorphisms involved in one-carbon metabolism. METHODS: Our sample consisted of 106 women, divided into two groups – Remission (n = 60), i.e., with the presence of pre-neoplastic lesions at first meeting (T(1)) and normal cytology after 6 months of follow-up (T(2)), and Persistence (n = 46), i.e., with the presence of pre-neoplastic lesions at T(1) and T(2). We obtained cervical samples for cytological analysis (T(1) and T(2)), HPV detection (T(1)), and evaluation of polymorphism C667T of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR C677T), A2756G of Methionine Synthase (MS A2756G), A66G of Methionine Synthase Reductase (MTRR A66G), double or triple 28 bp tandem repeat in 5′-untranslated enhanced region of Thymidylate Synthase (TSER), and 6 bp deletion at nucleotide 1494 in TS 3′-untranslated region (TS3’UTR). To analyze all genetic polymorphisms simultaneously, we calculated the Genetic Risk Score (GRS). RESULTS: We observed no differences between the Remission and Persistence groups regarding the GRS. Also, there were no differences in the genotypic and allelic distribution of MTHFR C677T and MS A2756G polymorphisms. However, the risk of persistence was higher among women with the heterozygote genotype - ins/del [OR (IC95%): 3.22 (1.19–8.69), p = 0.021], or the polymorphic genotype – del/del [OR (IC95%): 6.50 (1.71–24.70), p = 0.006] of TS3’UTR. Conclusions: The presence of the TS3’UTR polymorphism increased the risk of persistence of cervical abnormalities. This genetic variant could be a potential marker of cervical carcinogenesis and therefore assist the follow-up of women with persistent pre-neoplastic cervical lesions.