The frequency of TLR2 (rs3804099, rs3804100, and rs5743708) and TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome - preliminary study

Exploring therapeutic targets in Toll-like receptor pathways: Implications for cardiovascular management in polycystic ovary syndrome

Inflammation plays a crucial role in the development of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) via modulation in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways and over the recent couple of years, there has been an increase in the cardiovascular events associated with PCOS. To overcome this condition, the development of targeted drugs to modulate the TLR signaling pathway, a major trigger in the development of cardiovascular complications with PCOS patients is required. This review aims to explore the therapeutic targets with TLR pathways and their implications for cardiovascular management in PCOS. The chronic activation of TLRs contributes significantly to inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, which are critical factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases in patients with PCOS. Various novel therapeutic approaches are taken into consideration, such as TLR antagonists, naturally occurring TLR inhibitors like curcumin, Cryptotanshinone (CRY), quercetin, berberine, omega-3 fatty acids, and some novel targeted therapies like exosome and gene therapy. The literature findings indicated that targeting specific TLR pathways, TLR2 and TLR4 presents a promising avenue for mitigating cardiovascular complications associated with PCOS which play a major role in disease pathogenesis. The findings underscore the importance of understanding TLR-mediated mechanisms to develop effective interventions tailored to this population. This exploration not only enhances our understanding of immune responses, specific TLRs such as TLR2 and TLR4 in relation to cardiovascular health but also lays the groundwork for innovative therapeutic strategies.

Dissecting Causal Relationships Between Immune Cells, Plasma Metabolites, and PCOS: Evidence From Mediating Mendelian Randomization Analysis

Background

The relationship between Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and immune dysregulation, along with metabolic disturbances, remains unclear. This study used Mendelian Randomization (MR) to investigate causal relationships between immune cells, PCOS, and possible metabolite mediators.

Methods

We explored the genetic-level relationship between immune cells and PCOS, focusing on metabolites as potential mediators. Data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) included 731 immune cell types (n=3757), 1400 plasma metabolites (n=8299), and PCOS cases (n=797) versus controls (n=140,558). Bidirectional MR analysis examined immune-PCOS relationships, while two-step MR and mediation analysis identified metabolites as potential mediators. The inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method was used for primary causal assessment, with sensitivity analysis validating results.

Results

We identified a total of 33 immune cells that were associated with increased or decreased risk of PCOS (P < 0.05), and these immune cells were also associated with alterations in certain metabolite levels (P < 0.05). Among them, 12 immune cells were found to influence the occurrence of PCOS through the mediation of 17 metabolites. Notably, the effects of Myeloid DC %DC, NKT AC, CD20 on CD20- CD38-, CD25 on memory B cell, and HLA DR on CD33dim HLA DR+ CD11b+ were mediated by multiple metabolites on PCOS development. Similarly, histidine betaine (hercynine) levels and alpha-ketoglutarate to ornithine ratio mediated the association of more than one immune cell with PCOS.

Conclusion

This study highlights 12 immune cells impacting PCOS through 17 metabolites, advancing the understanding of immune mechanisms in PCOS risk and suggesting potential therapeutic approaches targeting immune modulation.

A study on the immunological vitality of an inflammatory biomarker explored with rs5743708 polymorphism in TLR2 gene among Saudi women confirmed with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Introduction

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an ovarian health condition as well as a long-term endocrine dysfunction that affects reproductive-aged women. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) gene was linked to PCOS and chronic inflammation, and the prevalence of obesity was rising in Saudi women. Previous studies on rs5743708 polymorphism were documented in the obesity as well as in PCOS women.

Aim

In this study, we investigated the molecular role of rs5743708 polymorphism in TLR2 gene among Saudi women diagnosed with PCOS using the Rotterdam criteria.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 220 Saudi women in this hospital-based case-control study; 110 were PCOS women and remaining 110 were non-PCOS (control women). Biochemical analysis was performed on serum samples, and molecular analysis was performed on EDTA blood. Genotyping for rs5743708 polymorphism was performed with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Results

In both groups, clinical data was calculated using t-test, which revealed both positive (p < 0.05) and negative (p > 0.05) associations. HWE analysis supported the rs5743708 polymorphism (p < 0.05). In the rs5743708 polymorphism, none of the genotypes, genetic models, or allele frequencies were found to be associated with PCOS and non-PCOS women. However, both ANOVA and regression analyses revealed a positive relationship in PCOS with weight and BMI (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The rs5743708 polymorphism was not associated to PCOS in Saudi women. One of the predictions could be that 42.7% of PCOS and 73.6% of non-PCOS women were obese, and the rs5743708 polymorphism has been linked to both obesity and PCOS in the previous studies. This study suggests screening for additional polymorphisms with a large sample size.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress: A New Research Direction for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common gynecological endocrine disorders, with sporadic ovulation, excessive androgens, and polycystic ovarian changes as the main clinical manifestations. Due to the high heterogeneity of its clinical manifestations, the discussion on its pathogenesis has not been unified. Current research has found that genetic factors, hyperandrogenism, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and obesity are strongly associated with PCOS. Recently, when studying the specific mechanisms of the abovementioned factors in PCOS, the biological response process of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) has gradually come to researchers' attention, and several studies have confirmed the involvement of ERS in the pathogenesis of PCOS and the improvement of a series of pathological manifestations of PCOS after the application of ERS inhibitors, which may be a new entry point for the treatment of PCOS. In this article, we review the relationship between ERS and various pathogenic factors of PCOS.

Association Between a TLR2 Gene Polymorphism (rs3804099) and Proteinuria in Kidney Transplantation Recipients

Background: The occurrence of proteinuria is one of the evaluation indicators of transplanted kidney damage and becomes an independent risk factor for poor prognosis after kidney transplantation. Our research sought to understand these potential associations and detect the underlying impact of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on proteinuria in kidney transplant recipients.

Materials and Methods: There were 200 recipients enrolled in this study, from which blood samples were extracted for SNP mutation–related gene detection. RNA sequencing was performed in kidney tissues after kidney transplantation, and the significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed between the control group and the proteinuria group. Then, the intersection of genes with SNP mutations and DEGs was conducted to obtain the target genes. Multiple genetic models were used to investigate the relationship between SNPs and proteinuria. In addition, the effect of SNP mutation in the target gene was further validated in human renal podocytes.

Results: According to the sequencing results, 26 significant SNP mutated genes and 532 DEGs were found associated with proteinuria after kidney transplantation. The intersection of SNP mutated genes and DEGs showed that the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) gene was significantly increased in the transplanted renal tissues of patients with proteinuria after kidney transplantation, which was consistent with the results of immunohistochemical staining. Further inheritance model results confirmed that mutations at rs3804099 of the TLR2 gene had significant influence on the occurrence of proteinuria after kidney transplantation. In the in vitro validation, we found that, after the mutation of rs3804099 on the TLR2 gene, the protein expressions of podocalyxin and nephrin in podocytes were significantly decreased, while the protein expressions of desmin and apoptosis markers were significantly increased. The results of flow cytometry also showed that the mutation of rs3804099 on the TLR2 gene significantly increased the apoptotic rate of podocytes.

Conclusion: Our study suggested that the mutation of rs3804099 on the TLR2 gene was significantly related to the generation of proteinuria after kidney transplantation. Our data provide insights into the prediction of proteinuria and may imply potential individualized therapy for patients after kidney transplantation.