Serum and Follicular Fluid Cytokines in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome During Stimulated Cycles:

Polikistik over sendromlu obez olmayan kadınlarda progesteron ve progesteron kaynaklı bloke edici faktör (PIBF) düzeyleri

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the level of progesterone and progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF), an immune mediator, in non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Materials and Methods: Totally 72 patients were recruited into study and divided into 2 groups: The first group was patients diagnosed with PCOS (n = 36) and the second was the healthy control group (n=36). The diagnosis of PCOS was made according to Rotterdam diagnostic criteria. All patients were 18–35 years old and non-obese (body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2). Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin (PRL), total testosterone, and dehydroepiandrostenedione sulfate (DHEA-S) levels were measured on the third day of the menstrual cycle. On the 21st day of the same menstrual period, fasting blood glucose, insulin, progesterone, and PIBF levels were measured. Results: Demographic and clinical characteristics of study participants were similar between the two groups. Serum FSH, E2, TSH, PRL, DHEA-S, total testosterone, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and hemoglobin A1c values were similar between the groups. Differences in LH, LH/FSH ratio, serum progesterone, and serum PIBF were statistically significant. Conclusion: Progesterone and PIBF levels decreased in non-obese PCOS patients. We suggest that even in the absence of obesity, which is the origin and enhancer of inflammation in PCOS, low PIBF as the underlying immunomodulator will drive complications.

Effects of N-acetylcysteine and metformin treatment on the stereopathological characteristics of uterus and ovary

In this study, the stereo-pathological effect of metformin and N-acetyl cysteine is evaluated on the uterus and ovary of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) mice. 96 mature females (8-weekold, weight of 20–30 gr) BALB/c mice were classified into 6 groups including the control group (n= 16), letrozole-induced PCOS group (n=16), PCOS + metformin (n=16), PCOS+NAC (n=16) and a separate control group for NAC (n=16). Another PCOS group was maintained for a month to make sure that features remain till the end of the study. Testosterone level, vaginal cytology and stereological evaluations were assessed. Vaginal cytology in letrozole-receiving mice showed a diestrus phase continuity. Testosterone level, body weight, uterine weight, endometrial volume, myometrial volume, gland volume, stromal volume, epithelial volume, vessel volume, daughter and conglomerate glands, endometrial thickness, and myometrial thickness exhibited an increasing trend in the uterus of PCOS mice. While normal gland and vessel length decreased in the PCOS group. Ovarian volume, corticomedullary volume, primary follicles, secondary follicles, and ovarian cysts were increased in PCOS ovaries. While corpus luteum, primordial, graafian, and atretic follicles showed a decline in the PCOS group. NAC and metformin, however, managed to restore the condition to normal. Given the prevalence of PCOS and its impact on fertility, the use of noninvasive methods is of crucial significance. NAC can control and treat pathological parameters and help as a harmless drug in the treatment of women with PCOS.

Endocrine disruptors, obesity, and cytokines - how relevant are they to PCOS?

As environmental and genetic components contribute to the PCOS expression, we compared levels of endocrine disruptors, steroid hormones, cytokines, and metabolic parameters in twenty healthy, nine normal-weight PCOS women, and ten obese PCOS women. Steroid hormones, bisphenols (BPA, BPS, BPF, BPAF) and parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, benzyl-parabens) were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Differences between the groups were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for the individual parameters relationship. Significantly higher levels of BPA, anti-Müllerain hormone, lutropine, lutropine/folitropine ratio, testosterone, androstenedione, 7beta-OH-epiandrosterone, and cytokines (IL-6, VEGF, PDGF-bb), were found in normal-weight PCOS women compared to controls. Between normal-weight and obese PCOS women, there were no differences in hormonal, but in metabolic parameters. Obese PCOS women had significantly higher insulin resistance, fatty-liver index, triglycerides, cytokines (IL-2, IL-13, IFN-gamma). In healthy, but not in PCOS, women, there was a positive correlation of BPA with testosterone, SHBG with lutropine, and folitropine, while testosterone negatively correlated with SHBG. In obese women with PCOS, insulin resistance negatively correlated with SHBG and estradiol. No differences were observed in the paraben exposure. Levels of BPA were higher in PCOS women, indicating its role in the etiology. Obesity significantly worsens the symptoms.

TMT Based Proteomic Analysis of Human Follicular Fluid From Overweight/Obese and Normal-Weight Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a major endocrine and metabolic disorder with heterogeneous manifestations and complex etiology. As a leading cause of anovulatory infertility, the molecular diversity of the follicular microenvironment has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the follicular fluid proteomic profiles of overweight/obese and normal-weight women with PCOS, to identify novel molecular mechanisms underlying PCOS and to determine the effect of obesity on the follicular fluid protein profiles. Methods: Follicular fluid samples were collected from 3 different groups: overweight/obese PCOS patients (n = 29), normal-weight PCOS patients (n = 29), and normo-ovulatory controls (n = 29). We used a quantitative approach with tandem mass tag labeling and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to identify the differentially expressed proteins. Differential abundance of four selected proteins was confirmed by ELISA. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was also conducted to further explore our findings. Furthermore, we compared the clinical, hormonal, and biochemical characteristics of overweight/obese and normal-weight patients with PCOS to determine the effects of obesity. Results: A total of 1,153 proteins were identified, of which 41 and 19 proteins were differentially expressed in the overweight/obese PCOS group vs. the control group, and in the normal-weight PCOS group vs. the control group, respectively. Bioinformatics analyses showed that the inflammatory, immunological, and metabolic-related biological processes were co-enriched in both subgroups of PCOS. Apolipoprotein A-II, complement C5, fetuin-B, and stromal cell-derived factor 1 were found to be involved in various processes and were validated using the ELISA analysis. From clinical features and proteomic data, obesity was found to worsen follicular development disturbances in PCOS. Conclusion: In this proteomic study, a panel of proteins were found differentially expressed in the follicular fluid of PCOS. Inflammatory, immunological, and metabolic abnormalities were identified inside the intra-follicular environment, which could be aggravated by obesity. The identified proteins were correlated with follicular growth and may be considered as candidate biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets of PCOS.