Journal of Women's Health Care
Open Access

Characterization of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in serum, follicular fluid, and cumulus cells

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Introduction

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a heritable multifactorial metabolic and endocrine disorder that affects up to 20% of premenopausal women worldwide. PCOS impairs women's quality of life and health by causing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes with or without insulin resistance, obesity, infertility, and pregnancy complications. Patients with PCOS require hormonal therapy or an ART cycle and in-vitro Fertilization (IVF) for pregnancy; they also have a risky pregnancy with an increased risk of preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), premature birth (32 weeks of pregnancy), and gestational diabetes [1,2].

Clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism (HA), oligo/ amenorrhea and ovulatory dysfunction (OD), and polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) are the three main signs and symptoms of PCOS. Rotterdam European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology/American Society for Reproductive Medicine Criteria developed four different phenotypes based on the presence of the main PCOS symptoms. Phenotype A is defined by HA, OD, and PCOM symptoms, while Phenotype B is defined by HA and OD, Phenotype C by HA and PCOM symptoms, and Phenotype D by OD and PCOM symptoms. PCOS is a complex disorder involving genetic, endocrine, environmental, and lifestyle factors. As a result, numerous targeted and untargeted studies have revealed significant genetic alterations in PCOS patients' ovaries [3].

MicroRNAs (miRs) are post-transcriptional genetic factors that regulate signalling and developmental pathways in the ovary. MiRs are small non-coding RNAs (21-25 nucleotides in length) that regulate the expression of their targets by binding to the 3′UTR of mRNAs. Recent studies have revealed that miRs found in cells. Numerous studies have evaluated miRs as PCOS markers that modulated various critical ovarian pathways, such as follicular development, steroidogenesis, metabolic pathways, and insulin sensitivity, which may provide new targets for PCOS diagnosis and treatment [4].

Characteristics: PCOS vs Non-PCOS women

The clinical characteristics of PCOS and control patients were compared, and there was no significant difference in terms of age or BMI between the two groups. AMH, LH, FSH, free and total testosterone (T), androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) were all detected. The results revealed a significant difference in AMH levels between the PCOS and non-PCOS groups (0.05). Furthermore, there were significant differences in steroid hormone levels between subgroup A and the control group [5,6].

POCS is a hormonal disorder that affects steroid biosynthesis, folliculogenesis, and oocyte maturation. Additionally, aromatase expression and follicular cell activity are required for PCOS development. These miRs may play important roles in steroidogenesis, metabolic pathways, oocyte maturation, proliferation, cell contact, and focal adhesion, according to target prediction. The observed changes in miRs and modulator genes in PCOS patients may indicate ovarian steroidogenesis dysfunction and follicular maturation arrest.

Conclusion

MiRNAs may be important in the aetiology and pathophysiology of PCOS. In addition, future studies must identify patients with PCOS B, a rare PCOS subtype. Some patients with PCOS B symptoms were discovered in this study, despite the fact that they were originally PCOS A patients with drug-suppressed PCOM and were excluded from the study. The current study can be considered a foundational stage of our research, with future studies focusing on functional assays, protein network validation, and the development of a PCOS in-vitro model.

References

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