P-641 Clinical significance of differential expression of miRNA642-a/miRNA5739/miRNA3648 in the follicular microenvironment in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Wang K , Yang X 
Published: June 2023

Study question

What is the relationship between differential expression of miRNA in the follicular microenvironment,follicular fluid hormone and oocyte quality in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.

Summary answer

In PCOS patients, differential expression of miRNA in the follicular microenvironment is associated with abnormal hormone levels in the follicular fluid and oocyte quality.

What is known already

PCOS has abnormalities in local ovarian morphology and function, and studies have shown that the expression of local miRNA in the ovaries will be accompanied by dynamic changes in follicular recruitment, oocyte growth, follicular microenvironment changes, etc., which may affect the quality of oocytes.

Study design, size, duration

19 patients with PCOS (PCOS group) and 17 patients with infertility due to male factors alone (control group) aged 22-35 years was included in the study. The main results included differential expression of miRNA642-a/miRNA5739/miRNA3648, MII egg rate, high-quality embryo rate, testosterone and insulin levels in follicular fluid.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

From April 2017 to January 2019, 19 PCOS patients (PCOS group) and 17 patients (control group) who underwent Intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer at the Reproductive Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were collected. RT-PCR was used to detect the differential expression levels of miRNA642-a/miRNA5739/miRNA3648 in follicular fluid and granule cells in PCOS group and control group, and Chemiluminescence was used to detect follicular fluid T and insulin levels.

Main results and the role of chance

The levels of testosterone and insulin in follicular fluid in PCOS group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05). The MII egg rate and optimal embryo rate in the PCOS group were both lower than those in the control group, and the difference was significant (P &lt; 0.05). The expression level of miR-642a-3p in follicular fluid and granule cells was consistent, and the PCOS group was lower than that in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05). The expression levels of miRNA-5739 and miRNA-3648 in follicular fluid were higher than those in the control group, but the expression levels in granule cells were lower than those in the control group, and the difference was significant (P &lt; 0.05).

Correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of miRNA-3648 and miRNA-5739 in follicular fluid were closely related to the normal fertilization rate of PCOS patients, and the expression levels of miRNA-5739 were closely related to the optimal embryo rate of PCOS patients. The expression levels of miRNA-642a-3p, miRNA-5739 and miRNA-3648 in granule cells were closely related to the MII egg rate and 2PN cleavage rate of PCOS patients.

Limitations, reasons for caution

MiRNAs participate in follicle development and maturation and hormone secretion through multiple signaling pathways. We only examined miRNA-642a-3p, miRNA-5739, miRNA-3648 in follicular fluid and granule cells, and did not detect the exosomal miRNAs. Dynamic changes in miRNA in the follicular microenvironment are not fully revealed.

Wider implications of the findings

Our results further demonstrate that the abnormal expression of miRNA in follicular fluid and granule cells in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is closely related to the local abnormal hormone secretion and follicle development of PCOS ovaries.

Trial registration number

not applicable