In Search of New Therapeutics—Molecular Aspects of the PCOS Pathophysiology: Genetics, Hormones, Metabolism and Beyond
In a healthy female reproductive system, a subtle hormonal and metabolic dance leads to repetitive cyclic changes in the ovaries and uterus, which make an effective ovulation and potential implantation of an embryo possible. However, that is not so in the case of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in...
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/19/7054 |
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| author | Agata Wawrzkiewicz-Jałowiecka Karolina Kowalczyk Paulina Trybek Tomasz Jarosz Patrycja Radosz Marcin Setlak Paweł Madej |
| author_facet | Agata Wawrzkiewicz-Jałowiecka Karolina Kowalczyk Paulina Trybek Tomasz Jarosz Patrycja Radosz Marcin Setlak Paweł Madej |
| author_sort | Agata Wawrzkiewicz-Jałowiecka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In a healthy female reproductive system, a subtle hormonal and metabolic dance leads to repetitive cyclic changes in the ovaries and uterus, which make an effective ovulation and potential implantation of an embryo possible. However, that is not so in the case of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in which case the central mechanism responsible for entraining hormonal and metabolic rhythms during the menstrual cycle is notably disrupted. In this review we provide a detailed description of the possible scenario of PCOS pathogenesis. We begin from the analysis of how a set of genetic disorders related to PCOS leads to particular malfunctions at a molecular level (e.g., increased enzyme activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP) type 17A1 (17<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-hydroxylase), 3<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>β</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-HSD type II and CYP type 11A1 (side-chain cleavage enzyme) in theca cells, or changes in the expression of aquaporins in granulosa cells) and discuss further cellular- and tissue-level consequences (e.g., anovulation, elevated levels of the advanced glycation end products in ovaries), which in turn lead to the observed subsequent systemic symptoms. Since gene-editing therapy is currently out of reach, herein special emphasis is placed on discussing what kinds of drug targets and which potentially active substances seem promising for an effective medication, acting on the primary causes of PCOS on a molecular level. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:03:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e608ba1697b47fdb7f090f37008ae5c |
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| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:03:20Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e608ba1697b47fdb7f090f37008ae5c2023-11-20T15:03:17ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672020-09-012119705410.3390/ijms21197054In Search of New Therapeutics—Molecular Aspects of the PCOS Pathophysiology: Genetics, Hormones, Metabolism and BeyondAgata Wawrzkiewicz-Jałowiecka0Karolina Kowalczyk1Paulina Trybek2Tomasz Jarosz3Patrycja Radosz4Marcin Setlak5Paweł Madej6Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, PolandFaculty of Science and Technology, University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-500 Chorzow, PolandDepartment of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, PolandIn a healthy female reproductive system, a subtle hormonal and metabolic dance leads to repetitive cyclic changes in the ovaries and uterus, which make an effective ovulation and potential implantation of an embryo possible. However, that is not so in the case of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in which case the central mechanism responsible for entraining hormonal and metabolic rhythms during the menstrual cycle is notably disrupted. In this review we provide a detailed description of the possible scenario of PCOS pathogenesis. We begin from the analysis of how a set of genetic disorders related to PCOS leads to particular malfunctions at a molecular level (e.g., increased enzyme activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP) type 17A1 (17<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-hydroxylase), 3<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>β</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-HSD type II and CYP type 11A1 (side-chain cleavage enzyme) in theca cells, or changes in the expression of aquaporins in granulosa cells) and discuss further cellular- and tissue-level consequences (e.g., anovulation, elevated levels of the advanced glycation end products in ovaries), which in turn lead to the observed subsequent systemic symptoms. Since gene-editing therapy is currently out of reach, herein special emphasis is placed on discussing what kinds of drug targets and which potentially active substances seem promising for an effective medication, acting on the primary causes of PCOS on a molecular level.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/19/7054polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)molecular mechanismnovel therapiesinositolsGABAkisspeptin |
| spellingShingle | Agata Wawrzkiewicz-Jałowiecka Karolina Kowalczyk Paulina Trybek Tomasz Jarosz Patrycja Radosz Marcin Setlak Paweł Madej In Search of New Therapeutics—Molecular Aspects of the PCOS Pathophysiology: Genetics, Hormones, Metabolism and Beyond International Journal of Molecular Sciences polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) molecular mechanism novel therapies inositols GABA kisspeptin |
| title | In Search of New Therapeutics—Molecular Aspects of the PCOS Pathophysiology: Genetics, Hormones, Metabolism and Beyond |
| title_full | In Search of New Therapeutics—Molecular Aspects of the PCOS Pathophysiology: Genetics, Hormones, Metabolism and Beyond |
| title_fullStr | In Search of New Therapeutics—Molecular Aspects of the PCOS Pathophysiology: Genetics, Hormones, Metabolism and Beyond |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Search of New Therapeutics—Molecular Aspects of the PCOS Pathophysiology: Genetics, Hormones, Metabolism and Beyond |
| title_short | In Search of New Therapeutics—Molecular Aspects of the PCOS Pathophysiology: Genetics, Hormones, Metabolism and Beyond |
| title_sort | in search of new therapeutics molecular aspects of the pcos pathophysiology genetics hormones metabolism and beyond |
| topic | polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) molecular mechanism novel therapies inositols GABA kisspeptin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/19/7054 |
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