Genomic and post-genomic approaches to polycystic ovary syndrome--progress so far: Mini Review

Genomic studies in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have focused on ovarian tissues and gene expression changes related to the gynaecological manifestations of PCOS. These studies have revealed a variety of altered genes that fall into many functional categories. Of these, the genes involved in steroidogenesis, including genes related to retinoic acid biosynthesis and LH-stimulated gene pathways, are generally up-regulated in PCOS samples. Genes involved in the Wnt signalling pathway appear down-regulated. Immune response genes and those involved in apoptosis are altered, but the net effect of these alterations is unclear at present. However, these altered gene expression patterns are yet to produce a defined aetiological basis or diagnostic biomarker for PCOS. The use of proteomic technologies for the study of the PCOS proteome is in its infancy; however, a few pilot studies have been published and the data are reviewed. Proteomics looks directly at the functional units within a cell, the proteins. This approach should thus serve to validate some of the gene expression changes identified and then build on the genomic results collected to date.