BAX/BCL-2 expression in granulosa cells was not altered in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hyperandrogenic disturbance commonly found in women of reproductive age (6%), can disturb normal fertility. The symptoms of PCOS include hyperandrogenism, oligomenorrhea, chronic anovulation, and hyperinsulinemia. Hyperandrogenism causes oocytes to be of poor quality (immature). Meanwhile, granulosa cell apoptosis could also affect oocyte quality. This study aimed to identify differences in the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene BCL-2–associated X (BAX) and anti-apoptotic gene B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) between patients with PCOS and healthy controls. In this cross-sectional study, 40 respondents (20 women with a confirmed diagnosis of PCOS and 20 controls) were recruited at the Yasmin IVF Clinic of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (Jakarta, Indonesia). These respondents provided informed consent. BAX and BCL-2 levels were assayed using real-time PCR. There were no significant differences in terms of BAX (p = 0.38) or BCL-2 levels (p = 0.223) between the PCOS and control groups. The BAX/BCL-2 ratio was also not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.31). In conclusion, BAX/BCL-2 gene expression did not significantly differ between the patients with PCOS and control subjects. Further studies using larger sample sizes are warranted to confirm these findings.