Abstract
BackgroundIt was reported that steroid-related gene expressions in the adipose tissue (AT) of women differ between women affected with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS. Although association between PCOS in mother and offspring’s health is a crucial issue, there are few studies focusing on AT of pregnant women suffering from PCOS. Our objectives were to determine the differences between mRNA expression levels of key steroid-converting enzymes in abdominal subcutaneous AT of pregnant women afflicted with PCOS and non-PCOS.MethodsTwelve pregnant women with PCOS (case) and thirty six non-PCOS pregnant women (control) (1:3 ratio; age- and BMI-matched) undergoing cesarean section were enrolled for the present study. Expressions of fifteen genes related to steriodogenesis in abdominal subcutaneous AT were investigated using quantitative real-time PCR.ResultsNo significant differences were detected with respect to age, BMI (prior pregnancy and at delivery day), gestational period and parity among pregnant women with PCOS and non-PCOS. Most of the sex steroid-converting genes except 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases2 (17BHSD2), were highly expressed on the day of delivery in subcutaneous AT. Women with PCOS showed significantly higher mRNA levels of steroidgenic acute regulator (STAR; P < 0.001), cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP11A1; P < 0.05), 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17A1; P < 0.05), and 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11BHSD1 and 11BHSD2; P < 0.05). The expression of steroid 21-hydroxylase (CYP21) in non-PCOS was fourfold higher than those of women with PCOS (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between relative expression of aromatase cytochrome P450 (CYP19A1), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3BHSD1 and 3BHSD2), and 17BHSD family (1, 3, 5, 7, and 12) between the two groups.ConclusionThe expression levels of genes related to sex steroids metabolism were similar to age-matched and BMI- matched pregnant non-PCOS and pregnant women with PCOS at delivery day. However, the alterations in gene expressions involved in glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids metabolism were shown. It is necessary to point out that further studies regarding functional activity are required. More attention should be given to AT of pregnant women with PCOS that was previously ignored.
Highlights
It was reported that steroid-related gene expressions in the adipose tissue (AT) of women differ between women affected with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS
Profiling of the key steroidogenic genes in subcutaneous AT The expression profile of key steroidogenic enzyme was compared in human AT obtained from pregnant women with PCOS and non-PCOS (Table 3). mRNAs of steroidgenic acute regulator (STAR)(P < 0.001) and Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP11A1) (P < 0.05) – the genes involved in the initial phase of steroidogenesis – were substantially significantly more ample in the subcutaneous AT of women with PCOS, than in those of nonPCOS (Fig. 1)
The present study provides noticeable differences between expression of genes involved in initial steps of steroidogenesis, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids metabolism in AT of pregnant women with PCOS and non-PCOS, whereas expression of genes related to sex steroid metabolism had similar in case and control groups
Summary
It was reported that steroid-related gene expressions in the adipose tissue (AT) of women differ between women affected with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disease, occurring in 4–18% of adolescents and women of childbearing age relying upon factors like adiposity and diagnostic criteria [1, 2]. Numerous health issues such as metabolic syndrome and androgen imbalance are the typical problems in women suffering from PCOS [3]. Bellemare et al [15] confimed the critical roles of type 12 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17BHSD12) in adipocyte differentiation and Quinkler et al [16] candidate 17 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 5 (17 BHSD5: account for the conversion of androstenedione into testosterone) in AT as a biomarker for overweight and hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS
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