Comprehensive assessment of expression of insulin signaling pathway components in subcutaneous adipose tissue of women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract Context Endometrial insulin resistance (IR) may account for the endometrial dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Objective To investigate whether the abundance of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSDs) 1 and 2 and cortisol as well as the insulin signaling pathway are altered in PCOS endometrium and to clarify the relationship between endometrial IR and local cortisol. Design We measured cortisol and cortisone concentrations, 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2, and core insulin signaling molecules in endometrial biopsies collected from non-PCOS and PCOS with or without IR patients on the seventh day after human chorionic gonadotropin injection. We also studied the effects of cortisol on glucose uptake and the insulin signaling pathway in primary cultured endometrial epithelial cells (EECs). Results The cortisol concentration was elevated, whereas 11β-HSD2 expression was diminished in endometrial biopsies obtained from PCOS with IR patients compared with those from non-PCOS and PCOS without IR patients. The implantation rate was relatively impaired and the endometrial insulin signaling pathway was defective in PCOS with IR patients. In addition, cortisol attenuated insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in EECs, which was mediated by inhibition of Akt phosphorylation and glucose transporter type 4 translocation via induction of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN). Conclusions Decreased oxidation of cortisol and defects of insulin signaling in endometrium were observed in PCOS with IR patients. The excessive cortisol level, derived from the reduction of 11β-HSD2, might contribute to the development of endometrial IR by inhibiting the insulin signaling pathway via induction of PTEN expression in EECs.

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Body composition of lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Anthropological Review ◽

10.2478/anre-2013-0018 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 76 (2) ◽

pp. 183-198 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lina Zabulienė ◽

Jurgita Urboniene ◽

Janina Tutkuvienė

Keyword(s):

Adipose Tissue ◽

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ◽

Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue ◽

Polycystic Ovary ◽

Ovary Syndrome ◽

Tissue Mass ◽

Skeletal Mass ◽

Cohen’S D ◽

Cohen's D ◽

Subcutaneous Adipose

Abstract Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most frequent endocrine and metabolic disorders in reproductive age women, and it is related to changes in body size, shape and composition. Anthropometric somatotype is a quantitative description of the individual’s body shape and composition classified as endomorphy, mesomorphy or ectomorphy. Since PCOS somatotype has never previously been studied, here we evaluate body shape and composition phenomena in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome and assess relationships with metabolic parameters. The study of 20-35 year-old women was carried out at the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology at Vilnius University. Standard anthropometric instruments and methods were used, and J. Matiegka’s equations calculated skeletal mass, skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue and muscles and internal organs. In addition, Heath - Carter’s somatotypes were computed, and the participants’ glucose, insulin, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin and lipid levels were established. We analysed data from 120 women with a mean age of 27.30 ± 3.68 years. Lean women with PCOS had greater skeletal mass by 0.47 kg (p<0.05, Cohen’s d=1.14), greater skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue mass by 2.79 kg (p<0.05, Cohen’s d=6.07) and lower muscle mass by 1.47 kg (p<0.05, Cohen’s d=2.84) compared to control women (p<0.05). The mean PCOS somatotype ratio was 4.96-4.38-3.00 (SD 1.50-1.26-1.11). This classified women with PCOS as mesomorphic endomorphs, in contrast to healthy women who were endomorphic mesomorphs. The PCOS subjects’ skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue and endomorphy/mesomorphy somatotype positively correlated with insulin levels and the HOMA-IR. It was established that lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome had a mesomorphic endomorph somatotype and higher skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue mass, but less muscle mass than healthy lean women. In addition, skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue positively correlated with insulin level and HOMA-IR in lean PCOS women.

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