Ameliorative effect of myo-inositol on red blood cell alterations in polycystic ovary syndrome: in vitro study

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)is a gynecological endocrine disorder which is associated with systemic inflammatory status inducing red blood cells (RBC) membrane alterations related to insulin resistance and testosterone levels which could be greatly improved by myo-inositol (MYO) uptake. In this study we aim to evaluate the effect of MYO in reducing oxidative-related alterations through in vitro study on PCOS RBC. Blood samples from two groups of volunteers, control group (CG, n = 12) and PCOS patient group (PG, n = 12), were analyzed for band 3 tyrosine phosphorylation (Tyr-P), high molecular weight aggregate (HMWA), IgG in RBC membranes, and glutathione (GSH) in cytosol, following O/N incubation in the presence or absence of MYO. PCOS RBC underwent oxidative stress as indicated by higher band 3 Tyr-P and HMWA and increased membrane bound autologous IgG. Twenty four hours (but not shorter time) MYO incubation, significantly improved both Tyr-P level and HMWA formation and concomitant membrane IgG binding. However, no relevant modification of GSH content was detected. PCOS RBC membranes are characterized by increased oxidized level and enhanced sensitivity to oxidative injuries leading to potential premature RBC removal. MYO treatment is effective in reducing oxidative related abnormalities in PCOS patients probably restoring the inositol phospholipid pools of the membranes.

Chinese abstract

多囊卵巢综合征（polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS）是一种妇科内分泌疾病, 与全身炎症状态有关, 诱导与胰岛素抵抗和睾酮水平有关的红细胞（RBC）膜改变, 而摄取肌醇（myo-myositol, MYO）可极大改善这种状况。本研究旨在通过对PCOS者红细胞的体外研究, 探讨MYO抑制氧化相关改变的作用。对两组志愿者（对照组（CG, n = 12）和PCOS组（PG, n = 12））的血样在加与不加MYO培养后, 分析带3酪氨酸磷酸化（Tyr-P）、高分子量聚集体（HMWA）、红细胞膜中的IgG和细胞质中的谷胱甘肽（GSH）。如更高带3Tyr-P和HMWA所示, PCOS者红细胞经历氧化应激并增加膜结合自体IgG。加MYO培养24小时（并非更短时间）显著提高了Tyr-P水平和HMWA形成以及随之而来的膜IgG结合。但是, 未检测到GSH含量的相应变化。PCOS红细胞膜的特点在于氧化水平升高和对氧化损伤的敏感性增加, 导致潜在的红细胞过早清除。MYO治疗可有效降低PCOS患者的氧化相关异常, 可能恢复膜的肌醇磷脂池。

Keywords:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• red blood cell (RBC)
• oxidative stress
• glutathione (GSH)
• myo-inositol (MYO)

Disclosure statement

Authors have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Italian Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica (MURST).