Levels of CD40L and other inflammatory biomarkers in obese and non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Differential Association of FTO Gene variants and Haplotypes with the Susceptibility to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome According To Obesity in Women with PCOS

We explored the relation between FTO single gene variants (rs1861868, rs9939973, rs1421085, rs1121980, rs17817449, rs8050136, rs9939609, rs9930506, and rs8044769) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in particular, according to the obesity status. This retrospective population-based case-control study involved women with PCOS (583) and 713 eumenorrheic control women; genotyping was done by real-time PCR. Significantly higher minor allele frequency (MAF) of rs9939973, rs17817449, rs9939609, and rs9930506 and lower MAF of rs1121980 were seen in PCOS cases. Lower risk of PCOS was associated with rs1121980 and rs8050136 heterozygous and minor allele-homozygous genotypes, while an elevated risk of PCOS was seen with minor allele-homozygous rs9939973, rs17817449, and r9939609 heterozygous and genotypes and minor allele-homozygous rs9930506 and rs8044769 genotype. While none of the tested FTO SNPs variants was associated with PCOS in normal body weight/lean subjects, rs9939973, rs9939609, and rs9930506 were negatively associated with PCOS in overweight subjects. In comparison, rs1861868 was negatively, while rs8044769 was positively associated with PCOS in obese subjects. Haplotype analysis identified haplotypes GACCTCTAT, AACCTCTAT, AACCTATAT and AGTTGCAGC, and GACCTCTAC to be positively associated with PCOS, while haplotypes GGTTGAAGC, GACCTATAT, GGTTGCAGC, and GATCTATAT were negatively associated with PCOS. Apart from GGTTGAAGC, these haplotypes remained associated with altered risk of PCOS after adjusting for covariates. In addition to rs17817449, rs9939609, rs9930506, and rs1121980, this study is the first to demonstrate association of rs9939973 and rs8044769 with altered risk of PCOS and the first to confirm the BMI dependency on the association of FTO variants with PCOS. This underscores the role of FTO gene variants as predisposing factors of PCOS.

Relation of resistin gene variants to resistin plasma levels and altered susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome: A case control study

BACKGROUND

A role for resistin in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and related features were described for various ethnicities. As its expression is partly inherited, a role for RETN polymorphisms in regulating resistin levels and PCOS risk was shown, but with varied results.

AIM

To investigate the association of rs34124816 (-537A>C), rs1862513 (-420C>G), rs3219175 (-358G>A), rs3745367 (+299G>A), rs3745369 (+1263G>C), and rs1423096 (+4965C>T) RETN SNPs with PCOS.

METHODS

Study subjects included 583 women with PCOS, and 713 eumenorrheic women serving as controls. Genotyping was done by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

Higher minor allele frequency (MAF) of rs34124816, rs3219175, and rs3745369, and lower MAF of rs1862513 and rs1423096 were seen in PCOS cases. Reduced PCOS risk was found with rs3745367 minor-allele homozygotes and rs1423096 minor-allele homozygotes, while increased risk was linked with rs3745367 heterozygotes, and with rs3745369 heterozygotes and minor-allele homozygotes. While it did not reach statistical significance, serum resistin levels were elevated in PCOS cases than in control women and major-allele homozygotes of rs34124816 and rs1862513, and in rs1423096 minor-allele-containing carriers. Carriage of rs34124816 correlated positively with age and LH, whereas rs1862513 positively and rs3745367 negatively correlated with fasting glucose. Six-locus (rs34124816-rs1862513-rs3219175-rs3745367-rs3745369-rs1423096) haplotype analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in AGGGGG and a marked increase in AGGGCG haplotypes between cases and controls, thus assigning PCOS protective and susceptible nature to these haplotypes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to document the contribution of rs34124816 and rs1423096 RETN variants to the risk of PCOS. The varied association of RETN gene variants with PCOS suggests an ethnic contribution of RETN association with PCOS.

Construction of a ceRNA-based lncRNA-mRNA network to identify functional lncRNAs in polycystic ovarian syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine and metabolic disorder in women of childbearing age. Recent studies suggest important roles for lncRNAs in PCOS development. Based on the hypothesis that lncRNAs are able to regulate mRNA functions by competitive binding to shared miRNAs, the present work sought to construct a PCOS-related lncRNA-mRNA network (PCLMN) to identify key lncRNAs with dysregulated expression and potential prognostic and therapeutic relevance. A global background network was constructed after retrieving lncRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA pairs from the lncRNASNP2, miRTarBase and StarBase databases. Based on gene expression profiles from ovarian granulosa cells from PCOS patients and controls in the GEO’s GSE95728 dataset, the PCLMN was then constructed by applying hypergeometric testing. Using topological analysis, we identified 3 lncRNAs (LINC00667, AC073172.1 and H19) ranking within the top-ten gene lists for all three centrality measures. We then explored their subcellular localization, performed functional module analyses, and identified 4 sex hormone-related transcription factors as potential regulators of their expression. Significant associations with inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis-related processes and pathways were revealed for the key lncRNAs in our PCMLN. Further studies verifying the mRNA/lncRNA relationships identified herein are needed to clarify their clinical significance.

Slush nitrogen vitrification of human ovarian tissue does not alter gene expression and improves follicle health and progression in long-term in vitro culture

OBJECTIVE

To study whether slush nitrogen (SN) vs. liquid nitrogen (LN) vitrification affects human ovarian tissue gene expression and preserves follicle health during extended in vitro culture.

DESIGN

Randomized experimental study.

SETTING

University research laboratory.

PATIENT(S)

Ovarian biopsies collected by laparoscopic surgery from patients with benign gynaecologic conditions.

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Ovarian strips were vitrified with LN or SN, warmed, and analyzed before or after culture for 9 days (d9) in gas-permeable dishes. Expression of genes involved in stress and toxicity pathways was analyzed in fresh and warmed strips by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array and quantitative real-time-PCR. Fresh and vitrified/warmed strips were analyzed for follicle quality, progression, and viability before or after culture.

RESULT(S)

The SN vitrification preserved follicle quality better than LN (% grade 1 follicles: fresh control, 54.2; LN, 29.3; SN, 48.8). Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated a noticeable up-regulation of 13 genes in LN samples (range, 10-35) and a markedly lower up-regulation of only 5 genes (range, 3.6-7.8) in SN samples. Long-term in vitro culture evidenced worse follicle quality and viability in LN samples than in both fresh and SN samples (% grade 1 follicle: fresh d0, 51.5; fresh d9, 41; LN d9, 16.4; SN d9, 55) and a highly significant reduction of primordial follicles and a concomitant increase of primary and secondary follicles in all samples. Follicle growth to the secondary stage was significantly higher in vitrified tissue than in fresh tissue, being better in SN than in LN vitrified tissue.

CONCLUSION(S)

Follicle quality, gene expression, viability, and progression are better preserved after SN vitrification.

An International Consortium Update: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Adolescence

This paper represents an international collaboration of paediatric endocrine and other societies (listed in the Appendix) under the International Consortium of Paediatric Endocrinology (ICPE) aiming to improve worldwide care of adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)1. The manuscript examines pathophysiology and guidelines for the diagnosis and management of PCOS during adolescence. The complex pathophysiology of PCOS involves the interaction of genetic and epigenetic changes, primary ovarian abnormalities, neuroendocrine alterations, and endocrine and metabolic modifiers such as anti-Müllerian hormone, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, adiposity, and adiponectin levels. Appropriate diagnosis of adolescent PCOS should include adequate and careful evaluation of symptoms, such as hirsutism, severe acne, and menstrual irregularities 2 years beyond menarche, and elevated androgen levels. Polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound without hyperandrogenism or menstrual irregularities should not be used to diagnose adolescent PCOS. Hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and obesity may be present in adolescents with PCOS, but are not considered to be diagnostic criteria. Treatment of adolescent PCOS should include lifestyle intervention, local therapies, and medications. Insulin sensitizers like metformin and oral contraceptive pills provide short-term benefits on PCOS symptoms. There are limited data on anti-androgens and combined therapies showing additive/synergistic actions for adolescents. Reproductive aspects and transition should be taken into account when managing adolescents.