Serum miRNAs in women affected by hyperandrogenic polycystic ovary syndrome: the potential role of miR-155 as a biomarker for monitoring the estroprogestinic treatment

Abstract

MicroRNAs can be used as very efficient circulating biomarkers. The role of microRNAs in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the effects of antiandrogen therapy on microRNA expression is still not fully understood. A panel of serum microRNAs were retrotranscribed via looped reverse primer transcription specific for each miRNA and quantified via probe specific RT-PCR in 16 Caucasian hyperandrogenic PCOS women selected according to the Rotterdam criteria and in a subset of seven patients after four months of sequential reverse antiandrogenic therapy. All women recruited underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a baseline total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins cholesterol, triglycerides, AST and ALT dosage. In the follicular phase women were evaluated for total testosterone, Δ4-androstenedione, DHEAS, 17OHpg, FSH, LH, and 17-β-E2. The AUC_2hglucose, ISI Matsuda, oral disposition index (DIo) and visceral adipose index (VAI) were also calculated. We suggest that miR-155 might have a role as biomarker in hyperandrogenic PCOS patients to monitor the effect of antiandrogen therapy.

Chinese abstract

女性血清miRNA受高雄激素多囊卵巢综合征影响：miR-155作为监测雌孕激素序贯治疗生物学标志物的潜在效果分析

摘要

MicroRNA是非常有效的循环生物标志物。microRNAs在多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）中的作用以及抗雄激素疗法对microRNA表达的具体影响还不甚明了。我们选择了16名按鹿特丹标准诊断的高加索高雄激素PCOS女性和连续抗雄激素治疗4个月后的7名患者, 其血清microRNAs通过特异性的环状反向引物进行逆转录, 并通过探针RT-PCR进行定量。所有入组女性都进行了口服葡萄糖耐量试验（OGTT）和总胆固醇, 高密度脂蛋白胆固醇, 甘油三酯, AST以及ALT检测。在卵泡期, 对总睾酮, D4-雄烯二酮, DHEAS, 17OHpg, FSH, LH和17-b-E2进行了评估。检测了AUC2葡萄糖, ISI Matsuda, 口服处置指数（DIo）和内脏脂肪指数（VAI）。我们认为miR-155可在高雄激素PCOS患者中作为生物标志物来监测抗雄激素疗法的效果。

关键词: 多囊卵巢综合征, mir-155, 内脏脂肪指数, 抗雄激素疗法, 生物标志物

Keywords:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• mir-155
• visceral adipose index
• antiandrogenic therapy
• biomarker

Acknowledgements

We want to thank all the collaborators and dedicate this paper to Dr. Marco Amato, who died of leukemia during the preparation of this paper. Without his expertise, without his medical knowledge of PCOS, and without his statistical skills this paper would have never been written.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by FESR PON [2007/2013 4.1.1.1 RIMEDRI].