Prokineticin 1 - Is it a reliable biomarker in polycystic ovarian syndrome?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a very common endocrine disorder that leads to follicular dysfunction and even infertility. Prokineticin 1 (PROK1) has been shown to be released from the theca interna and stroma of ovaries. PROK1 is also known to be a major prokineticin involved in reproduction and to play a crucial role in ovarian physiology. The present study investigated whether PROK1 might be a reliable biomarker for PCOS.

The present study was conducted in Koru Ankara Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Of the 88 women included in the study, 44 were diagnosed with PCOS. The remaining comprised the control group. Ten ml of venous blood sample was taken from every woman and stored at -80°C until analysis. All tests were two-tailed, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age. The mean serum levels of LH/FSH and E2 were significantly higher in PCOS patients compared to controls. No statistically significant difference was found in PROK1 levels between the groups.

PCOS is a very common endocrine disease affecting the life quality of a woman from adolescence to reproductive age. Some in vitro animal studies and a few human studies have revealed higher PROK1 levels in women with PCOS compared to healthy controls. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in vivo study on humans; investigating the relationship between PROK1 and PCOS. However, larger-scale studies may be designed to reveal the role of this peptide.