Duo Wei1,2,3, Juanke Xie2,3, Baoli Yin2,3, Haoying Hao2,3, Xiaobing Song2,3, Qi Liu2,3, Cuilian Zhang4,5, Yingpu Sun6. 1. The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhendzhou University, 1 Jianshedong Rd, Zhengzhou City, Henan, 450003, China. 2. Reproductive Medicine Center, the People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 7 Weiwu Rd, Zhengzhou City, Henan, 450003, China. 3. Reproductive Medicine Center, the People's Hospital of Henan Province, 7 Weiwu Rd, Zhengzhou City, Henan, 450003, China. 4. Reproductive Medicine Center, the People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 7 Weiwu Rd, Zhengzhou City, Henan, 450003, China. luckyzcl@qq.com. 5. Reproductive Medicine Center, the People's Hospital of Henan Province, 7 Weiwu Rd, Zhengzhou City, Henan, 450003, China. luckyzcl@qq.com. 6. The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhendzhou University, 1 Jianshedong Rd, Zhengzhou City, Henan, 450003, China. syp2008@vip.sina.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy among women at reproductive age. However, its etiology remains poorly understood. Recent studies indicated that telomere length was related to PCOS. However, the association between telomere length and PCOS has only been shown in leucocytes and remained controversial across different studies. To clarify the association between telomere length and PCOS, the current study interrogated telomere length not only in leucocytes, but also in follicular granulosa cells, which is essential for folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with PCOS and 81 controls with mechanical infertility undergoing their first in vitro fertilization cycle were enrolled. Their peripheral blood and granulosa cells were collected on the oocyte retrieval day. Telomere length of both leucocytes in the blood and granulosa cells was assayed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the leucocyte telomere length between controls and PCOS patients (0.99 ± 0.44 vs. 1.00 ± 0.38, p = 0.93). Interestingly, when comparing telomere length in granulosa cells between controls and PCOS subjects, significantly lengthened telomere length was found in PCOS subjects (1.00 ± 0.37 vs. 1.57±0.67, p < 0.0001). After adjustments for age and body mass index, the p value remained significant (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This finding reinforced the association between telomere abnormalities and PCOS. Given the importance of telomere length in cellular proliferation, our findings provided novel insights into the pathophysiology of PCOS that abnormalities in telomere length possibly disturb folliculogenesis and subsequently result in PCOS.
PURPOSE:Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy among women at reproductive age. However, its etiology remains poorly understood. Recent studies indicated that telomere length was related to PCOS. However, the association between telomere length and PCOS has only been shown in leucocytes and remained controversial across different studies. To clarify the association between telomere length and PCOS, the current study interrogated telomere length not only in leucocytes, but also in follicular granulosa cells, which is essential for folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with PCOS and 81 controls with mechanical infertility undergoing their first in vitro fertilization cycle were enrolled. Their peripheral blood and granulosa cells were collected on the oocyte retrieval day. Telomere length of both leucocytes in the blood and granulosa cells was assayed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the leucocyte telomere length between controls and PCOSpatients (0.99 ± 0.44 vs. 1.00 ± 0.38, p = 0.93). Interestingly, when comparing telomere length in granulosa cells between controls and PCOS subjects, significantly lengthened telomere length was found in PCOS subjects (1.00 ± 0.37 vs. 1.57±0.67, p < 0.0001). After adjustments for age and body mass index, the p value remained significant (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This finding reinforced the association between telomere abnormalities and PCOS. Given the importance of telomere length in cellular proliferation, our findings provided novel insights into the pathophysiology of PCOS that abnormalities in telomere length possibly disturb folliculogenesis and subsequently result in PCOS.
Authors: Daiana Cristina Chielli Pedroso; Cristiana Libardi Miranda-Furtado; Gislaine Satyko Kogure; Juliana Meola; Maja Okuka; Celso Silva; Rodrigo T Calado; Rui Alberto Ferriani; David L Keefe; Rosana Maria dos Reis Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2014-11-20 Impact factor: 7.329