Global Transcriptional Profiling of Granulosa Cells from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients Comparative Analyses of Patients: with or without History of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome Reveals Distinct Biomarkers and Pathways
Global Transcriptional Profiling of Granulosa Cells from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients: Comparative Analyses of Patients with or without History of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome Reveals Distinct Biomarkers and Pathways
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is often a complication of polycystic ovarian
syndrome (PCOS), the most frequent disorder of the endocrine system, which affects women in
their reproductive years. The etiology of OHSS is multifactorial, though the factors involved are
not apparent. In an attempt to unveil the molecular basis of OHSS, we conducted transcriptome
analysis of total RNA extracted from granulosa cells from PCOS patients with a history of OHSS
(n = 6) and compared them to those with no history of OHSS (n = 18). We identified 59 significantly
dysregulated genes (48 down-regulated, 11 up-regulated) in the PCOS with OHSS group compared to
the PCOS without OHSS group (p-value < 0.01, fold change >1.5). Functional, pathway and network
analyses revealed genes involved in cellular development, inflammatory and immune response,
cellular growth and proliferation (including DCN, VIM, LIFR, GRN, IL33, INSR, KLF2, FOXO1, VEGF,
RDX, PLCL1, PAPPA, and ZFP36), and significant alterations in the PPAR, IL6, IL10, JAK/STAT and
NF- B signaling pathways. Array findings were validated using quantitative RT-PCR. To the best of
our knowledge, this is the largest cohort of Saudi PCOS cases (with or without OHSS) to date that
was analyzed using a transcriptomic approach. Our data demonstrate alterations in various gene
networks and pathways that may be involved in the pathophysiology of OHSS. Further studies are
warranted to confirm the findings.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is often a complication of polycystic ovarian
syndrome (PCOS), the most frequent disorder of the endocrine system, which affects women in
…