Shortened Telomere Length in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes From Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Insulin...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, heterogeneous female endocrine disorder. Although its etiology and pathogenesis are complex, PCOS has been shown to be associated with altered leukocyte telomere length (LTL). The relationship between insulin resistance (IR)-a common manifestation and possible pathogenic factor in PCOS-and LTL remains unclear.

One hundred patients with PCOS and 44 controls were recruited. Anthropometric, clinical, biochemical parameters, and blood samples were collected. Patients with PCOS were divided by Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR) index into IR and non-IR (NIR). Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples, and the relative LTL was determined using real-time qPCR.

The relative LTL was shorter in the PCOS group than that in the control group (p = 0.026), and LTL was significantly shorter in the IR group than that in the control group (p = 0.004). LTL was also shorter in the IR group than in the NIR group (p = 0.032), whereas there was no significant change in LTL in the NIR group compared with controls. Statistically significant differences persisted even after adjusting for age. Individuals with relatively longer LTL have a lower risk of disease compared to those with shorter LTL. In addition, we found that in the PCOS group, relative LTL was correlated with FINS and HOMA-IR, while in the PCOS-IR group, relative LTL was correlated with E2.

The relative LTL in peripheral blood leukocytes was shorter in patients with PCOS than in healthy subjects, and telomere shortening was more pronounced in those with IR.