Oligogenic basis of premature ovarian insufficiency: an observational study

Abstract

Abstract Background The etiology of premature ovarian insufficiency, that is, the loss of ovarian activity before 40 years of age, is complex. Studies suggest that genetic factors are involved in 20–25% of cases. The aim of this study was to explore the oligogenic basis of premature ovarian insufficiency. Results Whole-exome sequencing of 93 patients with POI and whole-genome sequencing of 465 controls were performed. In the gene-burden analysis, multiple genetic variants, including those associated with DNA damage repair and meiosis, were more common in participants with premature ovarian insufficiency than in controls. The ORVAL-platform analysis confirmed the pathogenicity of the RAD52 and MSH6 combination. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that oligogenic inheritance is an important cause of premature ovarian insufficiency and provide insights into the biological mechanisms underlying premature ovarian insufficiency.