Soluble platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (sPECAM)-1 is increased in polycystic ovary syndrome and related to endothelial dysfunction

Altered expression of angiogenic factors in dominant preovulatory follicles of dairy cattle treated with ACTH

Studies in cows have reported that ovulation, steroidogenesis and angiogenesis are affected by stress and consequently fertility decreases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of ACTH administration during the preovulatory period on the expression of growth factors (CD-31, PDGF-A, PDGF-B, VEGFA-164, VEGFA-164b, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2) associated with the angiogenic process by immunohistochemistry in cows (n = 14). Results evidenced the expression of these growth factors in theca and granulosa cells from antral, atretic and dominant preovulatory follicles of ACTH-treated cows, suggesting that, under stress conditions, their expression continues to be required. VEGFA-164, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2 expression was greater in theca cells of dominant preovulatory follicles of the ACTH-treated group than in those of the control group. CD-31 protein expression was lower in the dominant preovulatory follicles of the ACTH-treated group than in those of the control group. PDGF-A and PDGF-B expression did not differ between groups, either in granulosa or in theca cells. These results suggest that VEGFA-164, its receptors and CD-31 are actors in the normal cycle of the ovaries and could have greater pathophysiological importance in the altered angiogenic process and other events that occur during anovulation and stress conditions. This dysregulation reinforces the importance of the angiogenic process in the pathophysiology of cystic ovarian disease in cows. This is the first report on the expression and localization of components of the VEGF and PDGF systems and CD-31 in cells from dominant preovulatory follicles after ACTH administration.

Translational Bioinformatics for Human Reproductive Biology Research: Examples, Opportunities and Challenges for a Future Reproductive Medicine

Since 1978, with the first IVF (in vitro fertilization) baby birth in Manchester (England), more than eight million IVF babies have been born throughout the world, and many new techniques and discoveries have emerged in reproductive medicine. To summarize the modern technology and progress in reproductive medicine, all scientific papers related to reproductive medicine, especially papers related to reproductive translational medicine, were fully searched, manually curated and reviewed. Results indicated whether male reproductive medicine or female reproductive medicine all have made significant progress, and their markers have experienced the progress from karyotype analysis to single-cell omics. However, due to the lack of comprehensive databases, especially databases collecting risk exposures, disease markers and models, prevention drugs and effective treatment methods, the application of the latest precision medicine technologies and methods in reproductive medicine is limited.

Bovine models for human ovarian diseases

During early embryonic development, late fetal growth, puberty, adult reproductive years, and advanced aging, bovine and human ovaries closely share molecular pathways and hormonal signaling mechanisms. Other similarities between these species include the size of ovaries, length of gestation, ovarian follicular and luteal dynamics, and pathophysiology of ovarian diseases. As an economically important agriculture species, cattle are a foundational species in fertility research with decades of groundwork using physiologic, genetic, and therapeutic experimental techniques. Many technologies used in modern reproductive medicine, such as ovulation induction using hormonal therapy, were first used in cows before human trials. Human ovarian diseases with naturally occurring bovine correlates include premature ovary insufficiency (POI), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and sex-cord stromal tumors (SCSTs). This article presents an overview of bovine ovary research related to causes of infertility, ovarian diseases, diagnostics, and therapeutics, emphasizing where the bovine model can offer advantages over other lab animals for translational applications.

Assessment of Early Markers of Cardiovascular Risk in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous syndrome, with long-term sequelae from birth to senescence. The long-term effects of PCOS are attributed to several metabolic aberrations ensuing the syndrome. In a systematic review of literature regarding the cardiovascular risk factors that accompany PCOS, we found that macrovascular function has been assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), microvascular function by venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP), and arterial structure by ultrasonographic assessment of intima-media thickness (IMT) usually of the carotid artery. Contradictory results have been reported; however, in most studies, endothelial dysfunction, an early marker of atherosclerosis assessed either by haemodynamic methods such as FMD or by biochemical methods such as endothelin-1 levels, was found to be impaired. VOP is a less-studied method, with few indices altered. IMT was found to be altered in most of the included studies, but the population was more heterogeneous. Inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein, were also found to be altered in most studies. On the other hand, a number of interventions have been shown beneficial for the markers of cardiovascular risk, in the context of insulin-sensitizers. However, other interventions such as oral contraceptive pills or statins did not consistently show a similar beneficial effect. In summary, the early identification and eventual treatment of cardiovascular clinical and biochemical risk factors may be used in clinical practice to prevent potential 'silent' triggers of cardiovascular disease.

Assessment of Early Markers of Cardiovascular Risk in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

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The effects of empagliflozin vs metformin on endothelial microparticles in overweight/obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

CONTEXT

Endothelial microparticles (EMPs) are novel, surrogate biomarkers of endothelial function and have been shown to be elevated in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It remains poorly understood how pharmacological options for managing PCOS affect EMP levels.

OBJECTIVE

To characterise and compare the effects of empagliflozin vs metformin on the circulating levels of EMPs in overweight/obese women with PCOS.

METHODS

This was a randomised, comparative, 12-week single-centre trial conducted at the Academic Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Centre, Hull, UK. This analysis includes data from 39 overweight/obese women with PCOS who completed the study and were randomised to empagliflozin (15 mg/day) (n = 19) or metformin (1500 mg/day) (n = 20). Blood samples were collected at baseline and 12 weeks after treatment and analysed for specific surface proteins (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PECAM-1, E-selectin and endoglin) expressed by circulating EMPs using flow cytometry.

RESULTS

In the empagliflozin group, ICAM-1 (P = 0.006), E-selectin (P = 0.016) and VCAM-1 (P = 0.001) EMPs increased significantly following 12 weeks of treatment, but no changes were seen in PECAM-1 (P = 0.93) or endoglin (P = 0.13) EMPs. In the metformin group, VCAM-1 EMPs (P < 0.001) increased significantly after 12 weeks of treatment, whereas all other EMPs remained unchanged. When data were expressed as percentage change from baseline in each group, no significant differences were seen between groups for any biomarker (P-values from 0.22 to 0.80).

CONCLUSIONS

Short-term administration of empagliflozin and metformin in overweight/obese women with PCOS appear to increase EMPs expressed by endothelial cells during their activation.

Genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression patterns provide insight into polycystic ovary syndrome development

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women. However, the epigenetic mechanism involved in PCOS progression remains largely unknown. Here, combining the DNA methylation profiling together with transcriptome analysis, we showed that (i) there were 7929 differentially methylated CpG sites (β > 0.1, P < 0.05) and 650 differential transcripts (fold change > 1.5, P < 0.005) in PCOS compared to normal ovaries; (ii) 54 genes were identified with methylated levels that were correlated with gene transcription in PCOS; and (iii) there were less hypermethylated sites, but many more hypomethylated sites residing in CpG islands and N_Shore in PCOS. Among these genes, we identified that several significant pathways, including the type I diabetes mellitus pathway, p53 signaling pathway and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, and some immune and inflammatory diseases may be highly involved in PCOS development. These results suggested that differences in genome-wide DNA methylation and expression patterns exist between PCOS ovaries and normal ovaries; epigenetic mechanisms may in part be responsible for the different gene expression and PCOS phenotype. All of this may improve our understanding of the basic molecular mechanism underlying the development of PCOS.

Real-time monitoring of cell mechanical changes induced by endothelial cell activation and their subsequent binding with leukemic cell lines

Endothelial cell (EC) activation and their subsequent binding with different cells have various mechanical consequences that, if monitored real time, can serve as a functional biomarker of many pathophysiological response mechanisms. This work presents an innovative and facile strategy to conduct such monitoring using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), thereby relating the shifts in its frequency and motional resistance to morphological changes upon cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions. By activating ECs with TNF-α and then characterizing their binding with HL-60 and KG-1 leukemia cells, we are able to induce the mechanical changes in ECs especially in the region of cell-substrate contact which resulted in dynamically coupled mass and viscoelastic changes representing the extent of both activation and binding. The activated ECs suffered a decrease of cellular contact area, leading to positive frequency shift and decreased motional resistance. The binding of leukemia cells onto pre-activated ECs exerted a mechanical force to regain the cell surface contact which resulted in the obvious QCM responses opposite to that of activation, and proportional to the number of cells added, in spite of the fact that these added cells are extremely outside the extinction boundary of the shear wave generated by QCM. Different cell lines demonstrate different attachment behavior, which was detected by the QCM. Despite these variations are quite subtle, yet the sensitivity of the technique for dynamic changes at the interface makes them detectable. Moreover, the reproducibility of the generated data determined at each step by deviation measurements (<10%) in response plot was very high despite the high possible heterogeneity in cell populations. The results are explained on the basis of simple theoretical and physical models, although, the development of a more quantitative and precise model is underway in our laboratory.