Comprehensive Summary
This study uses bioinformatics analysis to investigate the possibility that inhibited endocrine function of granulosa cells, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle due to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) could result in chronic inflammation and subsequent development of atherosclerosis (AS). The researchers used the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to acquire eight microarray PCOS gene datasets and one AS microarray dataset before processing the raw data using R statistical software (version 4.3.0) and the open source software tool Bioconductor, finally running the data through WGCNA (weighted gene co-expression network analysis) to identify potential genetic interconnections. Immune cell recruitment to sites of inflammation was explored through construction of chemokine/receptor-immunocyte networks. These findings were further tested using tissue samples from 16 female mice, which were used to formulate a correlational statistical analysis and suggested that PCOS-derived chemokine assisted in the development of AS. The study also detected a notable decrease in apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 in PCOS adipose tissue, which exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory behaviors. This finding further supports the connection between PCOS and likelihood of developing atherosclerosis.
Outcomes and Implications
This research possesses great clinical significance with regard to the early detection and treatment of PCOS in women, which is crucial when considering the findings of Zhao et al. that highlight the compounding negative effects on the cardiovascular systems of women with PCOS. Though not yet validated, the data in this experiment reveals that the increase in cardiovascular morbidity rates in young women may have a direct connection to prevalence of PCOS, and indicates that early detection and management of PCOS symptoms could reduce likelihood of developing cardiovascular symptoms — which is especially prevalent considering that the leading cause of death in women is heart disease. Clinically, these findings could prompt a more proactive approach in diagnosing and treating PCOS, attempting to prevent heart disease rather than waiting to treat it.