Dataset Information

The Pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): The Hypothesis of PCOS as Functional Ovarian Hyperandrogenism Revisited.

ABSTRACT: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was hypothesized to result from functional ovarian hyperandrogenism (FOH) due to dysregulation of androgen secretion in 1989-1995. Subsequent studies have supported and amplified this hypothesis. When defined as otherwise unexplained hyperandrogenic oligoanovulation, two-thirds of PCOS cases have functionally typical FOH, characterized by 17-hydroxyprogesterone hyperresponsiveness to gonadotropin stimulation. Two-thirds of the remaining PCOS have FOH detectable by testosterone elevation after suppression of adrenal androgen production. About 3% of PCOS have a related isolated functional adrenal hyperandrogenism. The remaining PCOS cases are mild and lack evidence of steroid secretory abnormalities; most of these are obese, which we postulate to account for their atypical PCOS. Approximately half of normal women with polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) have subclinical FOH-related steroidogenic defects. Theca cells from polycystic ovaries of classic PCOS patients in long-term culture have an intrinsic steroidogenic dysregulation that can account for the steroidogenic abnormalities typical of FOH. These cells overexpress most steroidogenic enzymes, particularly cytochrome P450c17. Overexpression of a protein identified by genome-wide association screening, differentially expressed in normal and neoplastic development 1A.V2, in normal theca cells has reproduced this PCOS phenotype in vitro. A metabolic syndrome of obesity-related and/or intrinsic insulin resistance occurs in about half of PCOS patients, and the compensatory hyperinsulinism has tissue-selective effects, which include aggravation of hyperandrogenism. PCOS seems to arise as a complex trait that results from the interaction of diverse genetic and environmental factors. Heritable factors include PCOM, hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance, and insulin secretory defects. Environmental factors include prenatal androgen exposure and poor fetal growth, whereas acquired obesity is a major postnatal factor. The variety of pathways involved and lack of a common thread attests to the multifactorial nature and heterogeneity of the syndrome. Further research into the fundamental basis of the disorder will be necessary to optimally correct androgen levels, ovulation, and metabolic homeostasis.

SUBMITTER: Rosenfield RL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5045492 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The Pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): The Hypothesis of PCOS as Functional Ovarian Hyperandrogenism Revisited.

Rosenfield Robert L RL Ehrmann David A DA

Endocrine reviews 20160726 5

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was hypothesized to result from functional ovarian hyperandrogenism (FOH) due to dysregulation of androgen secretion in 1989-1995. Subsequent studies have supported and amplified this hypothesis. When defined as otherwise unexplained hyperandrogenic oligoanovulation, two-thirds of PCOS cases have functionally typical FOH, characterized by 17-hydroxyprogesterone hyperresponsiveness to gonadotropin stimulation. Two-thirds of the remaining PCOS have FOH detectable b ...[more]

PMID: 27459230

Similar Datasets

Project description:PCOS is a complex genetic disease reflecting the interplay of susceptibility genes and environmental factors. The cardinal reproductive feature of the syndrome, hyperandrogenemia, appears to play a direct role in the pathogenesis of the associated metabolic abnormalities. Male as well as female first-degree relatives have reproductive and metabolic phenotypes including increased prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic syndrome (MBS) and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Northwestern University (NU) investigators lead a team that has extensive experience in phenotyping PCOS and in the genetic analysis of complex diseases including genome-wide association study (GWAS). Together with an expert group of collaborators from the Hershey Medical Center, and The University of Chicago, we have conducted a GWAS to identify PCOS susceptibility alleles using a large cohort of extensively and consistently phenotyped PCOS cases. Population controls for this study come from the NUgene project described below. NUgene project: In 2002, Northwestern committed to the development of a DNA repository to serve as a platform for the identification and validation of genotype-phenotype associations that will impact healthcare. The NUgene Project is a repository with longitudinal medical information from participating patients at affiliated hospitals and outpatient clinics from the Northwestern University Medical Center. Participants' DNA samples are coupled with data from a questionnaire (2 versions were used, 1 before and 1 after February 2006, both are included) and continuously updated data from our Electronic Medical Record (EMR) representing actual clinical care events. Northwestern has a state-of-the art, comprehensive inpatient and outpatient EMR system of over 2 million patients. NUgene has broad access to participant data for all outpatient visits as well as inpatient data via a consolidated data warehouse. NUgene participants consent to distribution and use of their coded DNA samples and data for a broad range of genetic research by third-party investigators.

Project description:ContextAndrogen excess may be adrenal and/or ovarian in origin; we hypothesized that a subgroup of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may have some degree of abnormal adrenocortical function.ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to evaluate the pituitary adrenal axis with an oral low- and high-dose dexamethasone-suppression test (Liddle's test) in women with PCOS.DesignThis was a case-control study.SettingThe study was conducted at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.ParticipantsA total of 38 women with PCOS and 20 healthy volunteers (HV) aged 16-29 years participated in the study.Main outcome measuresUrinary free cortisol (UFC) and 17-hydroxysteroids (17OHS) before and after low- and high-dose dexamethasone and assessment of adrenal volume by computed tomography scan were measured.ResultsTwenty-four-hour urinary 17OHS and UFC were measured during day 1 to day 6 of the Liddle's test. Baseline UFC levels were not different between PCOS and HVs; on the day after the completion of high-dose dexamethasone administration (d 6), UFC was higher in the PCOS group (2.0 ± 0.7 μg/m(2)·d) than the HV group (1.5 ± 0.5) (P = .038). On day 5, 17OHS and UFC were negatively correlated with adrenal volumes (left side, rp = -0.47, P = .009, and rp = -0.61, P < .001, respectively). PCOS patients above the 75th percentile for UFC and/or 17OHS after high-dose dexamethasone (n = 15) had a significantly smaller total adrenal volume (6.9 ± 1.9 cm(3) vs 9.2 ± 1.8 cm(3), P = .003) when compared with the remaining PCOS patients (n = 22), but they did not have worse insulin resistance or hyperandrogenism.ConclusionsIn a subset of young women with PCOS, we detected a pattern of glucocorticoid secretion that mimicked that of patients with micronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia: they had smaller adrenal volumes and higher steroid hormone secretion after dexamethasone compared with the group of PCOS with appropriate response to dexamethasone.

Dataset Information

The Pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): The Hypothesis of PCOS as Functional Ovarian Hyperandrogenism Revisited.

Publications

The Pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): The Hypothesis of PCOS as Functional Ovarian Hyperandrogenism Revisited.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets