Correlation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase single nucleotide polymorphisms with in vitro fertilisation outcomes.

Purpose: To explore whether it is possible to predict the number and quality of the embryo using a few particular hTERT SNPs.

Methods: We included 997 Han Chinese women who were genetically unrelated and underwent assisted reproduction using IVF from September 2014 to December 2015. DNA was genotyped by using TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR.

Results: Among the 997 patients, individuals with the CC genotype of rs2075786 had a significantly lower number of good-quality embryos than those with the TT+TC genotypes. Compared with the CT+CC genotype carriers, patients carrying the TT genotype of rs2853677 had a significantly lower number of oocytes retrieved, mature oocytes and available embryos. Among the 750 patients aged ≤ 35 years, individuals with the AA+AG genotypes of rs2853691 had a significantly higher number of good-quality embryos than those with the GG genotype. The haplotype analysis showed that the TTTG (rs2853672/rs2853669/rs2735940/rs2736108) haplotype was more likely to lead to more than three good-quality embryos in patients aged ≤ 35 years.

Conclusions: Our study suggests that the hTERT SNP is associated with IVF outcomes.