Role of kisspeptin in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Abstract

Objective: Due to the complex relationship between kisspeptin and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, the study was planned to measure the kisspeptin levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to analyze the correlations between kisspeptin and PCOS-related reproductive, metabolic changes.

Methods: The study was designed as a prospective study in Dokuz Eylul University between December 2011 and September 2013. A total of 285 PCOS cases and 162 controls were recruited. After the antropometric measeruments and physcial examination, blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis.

Results: PCOS group’s mean BMI was 24.32 ± 3.40 and for the control group, BMI value was 23.44 kg/m² ± 4.08 (p = 0.351). PCOS patients’ FSH level was 5.10 ± 2.01 mIU/L, LH value was 7.75 ± 4.31 mIU/mL, LH/FSH ratio was 1.70 ± 1.28, DHEAS value was 221.84 ± 105.02 mg/dl, total testosterone value was 50.51 ± 27.93 ng/ml, free testosterone value was 2.52 ± 1.05 pg/ml, SHBG was 63.74 ± 45.62 nmol/L, LDL was 102.56 ± 23.45 mg/dL, HDL value was 51.36 ± 12.15 mg/dL, total cholesterol value was 214.85 ± 39.27 mg/dL, triglyceride value was 112.95 ± 46.88 mg/dL, Apo A1 value was 171.30 ± 35.35 mg/dL, Apo B value was 71.08 ± 19.07 mg/dL, Apo B/A1 ratio was 0.42 ± 0.14, free androgen index was 13.77 ± 14.15, fasting glucose value was 80.68 ± 13.80 mg/dL, fasting insulin levels was 14.13 ± 9.11 μiU/mL, HOMA-IR index was 2.76 ± 2.34, AMH value was 5.93 ± 3:33 in ng/ml, and found to be significantly higher (p < 0.001). Leptin value was 9.71 ± 5.54 pg/ml and kisspeptin value was 1.92 ± 1.29 ng/ml, respectively. Kisspeptin and leptin levels showed no statistically significant difference with control group and PCOS group. In all PCOS patients, kisspeptin showed positive correlations between LH and leptin levels.

Conclusion: In this study, kisspeptin had a positive correlation with LH and leptin levels in PCOS. In fact, the serum levels of kisspeptin and leptin does not differ statistically between PCOS and healthy women. There are limited data in the literature with regard to changes in kisspeptin levels and its relation with metabolic and hormonal disturbances.

Chinese abstract

目的：由于kisspeptin与下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴间复杂的关系, 本研究检测多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)患者kisspeptin的水平, 并分析kisspeptin与PCOS相关生殖, 代谢变化的关系。

方法：本研究是在度库兹埃路尔大学自2011年12月至2013年9月进行的前瞻性研究。共招募285例PCOS患者和162例对照人群。测量人体测量学指标和体格检查后, 抽血进行生化分析。

结果：PCOS组平均BMI为24.32 ± 3.40, 对照组BMI为23.44 kg/m2 ± 4.08 (p = 0.351)。PCOS患者的FSH水平为5.10 ± 2.01 mIU/L, LH水平为7.75 ± 4.31mIU/mL, LH/FSH值为1.70 ± 1.28, DHEAS为221.84 ± 105.02 mg/dl, 总睾酮为50.51 ± 27.93 ng/ml, 游离睾酮为2.52 ± 1.05 pg/ml, SHBG为63.74 ± 45.62 nmol/L, LDL为102.56 ± 23.45 mg/dL, HDL为51.36 ± 12.15 mg/dL, 总胆固醇为214.85 ± 39.27 mg/dL, 甘油三酯为112.95 ± 46.88 mg/dL, ApoA1为171.30 ± 35.35 mg/dL, ApoB 为71.08 ± 19.07 mg/dL, ApoB/A1值为0.42 ± 0.14, 游离雄激素指数为13.77 ± 14.15, 空腹血糖为80.68 ± 13.80 mg/dL, 空腹胰岛素为14.13 ± 9.11 mIU/mL, HOMA-IR指数为2.76 ± 2.34, AMH水平为5.93 ± 3:33 in ng/ml, 且显著较高 (p < 0.001)。瘦素水平为9.71 ± 5.54 pg/ml, kisspeptin值为1.92 ± 1.29 ng/ml。Kisspeptin和leptin水平在PCOS组和对照组无显著差异。对于所有PCOS患者, kisspeptin与LH和瘦素水平呈正相关。

结论：本研究中PCOS患者的kisspeptin与LH和瘦素水平呈正相关, 血清kisspeptin和瘦素水平在PCOS患者和健康女性间无统计学差异。文献中关于kisspeptin水平变化及其与代谢和激素紊乱关系的数据很有限。

Keywords:

• Insulin resistance
• kisspeptin
• leptin
• polycystic ovary syndrome

Declaration of interest

Authors declare no financial relationship with the any organization. Authors have full control of all primary data. Written informed consent was obtained from the patients for publication. Copies of the written consents are available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal on request.