Evaluation inflammatory markers of hemogram parameters in primary ovarian insufficiency

Exploring the genetic association between inflammatory cytokines and primary ovarian insufficiency: A Mendelian randomization study

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the genetic underpinnings of Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) by examining the association between 91 inflammatory cytokines identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and POI, using Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore potential causal relationships.

METHODS

We utilized Mendelian Randomization (MR) to investigate the causative links between inflammatory cytokines and POI, selecting genetic variants associated with cytokine levels as instrumental variables.

RESULTS

Utilizing the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method, our Mendelian Randomization (MR) study elucidated the influence of inflammatory cytokines on POI. We discovered that certain cytokines exhibit a protective association: CC motif chemokine 19 (CCL19) [OR 0.58; 95 % CI: 0.36-0.93; p = 0.024], Interleukin-10 (IL-10) [OR 0.41; 95 % CI: 0.23-0.72; p = 0.002], Interleukin-17 A (IL-17 A) [OR 0.44; 95 % CI: 0.20-0.96; p = 0.040], and Monocyte chemotactic protein 3 (MCP-3) [OR 0.51; 95 % CI: 0.29-0.89; p = 0.018]. Conversely, an elevated level of interleukin-33 in blood plasma was identified as a risk factor for POI [OR 2.83; 95 % CI: 1.23-6.50; p = 0.015].

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate a significant correlation between specific inflammatory cytokines and the risk of developing POI. The negative association of cytokines such as CCL19, IL-10, IL-17 A, and MCP-3 suggests a protective effect against POI, whereas the positive association of IL-33 levels implies a potential adverse impact. These insights could guide future research towards targeted immunomodulatory therapies for the management and prevention of POI.

Comparing the coagulation and platelet parameters of women with premature ovarian insufficiency with those of age-matched controls: A case-control study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the coagulation and platelet parameters in women with spontaneous premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) with those in age-matched controls.

METHODS

This case-control study recruited 202 women with POI and 202 age-matched women with benign gynecological diseases as controls. Coagulation parameters, including prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen, and platelet parameters, including platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), plateletcrit (PCT), and platelet distribution width (PDW), were compared between women with POI and controls. Factors associated with coagulation and platelet parameters were also analyzed in women with POI.

RESULTS

In women with POI, higher fibrinogen levels and PDW, lower PLT, MPV, and PCT levels, and shorter TT were observed (p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis further revealed that women with POI were more likely to exhibit increased serum fibrinogen levels (β = 0.465, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.366-0.564) and PDW (β = 0.340, 95% CI 0.300-0.379), decreased TT (β = -1.101, 95% CI -1.233--0.969), PLT (β = -50.985, 95% CI -65.087--36.882), MPV (β = -1.498, 95% CI -1.875 to -1.120), PCT levels (β = -0.084, 95% CI -0.095--0.973). Additionally, follicle-stimulating hormone levels were positively associated with fibrinogen levels in women with POI. There were no statistically significant differences in PT, INR, and APTT between women with POI and controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with POI exhibited decreased platelet numbers, abnormal platelet morphology, and elevated fibrinogen concentrations, potentially implicating POI's etiopathogenesis or contributing to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women with POI. No coagulation abnormalities were observed in women with POI.

Hematological Indices and Genetic Variants of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency: Machine Learning Approaches

BACKGROUND

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is associated with infertility. Little is known about the potential circulating biomarkers that could be used to predict POI. We have investigated the possible association between white and red blood cells, platelet indices, and eight established single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with POI risk.

METHODS

117 women with premature menopause (PM) and 183 healthy women without a history of menopause before age 40 were recruited for this study. The tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (Tetra ARMS PCR) and allele-specific oligonucleotides- polymerase chain reaction (ASO-PCR) were carried out for genotyping for eight SNPs reported to be associated with POI. Decision tree analysis was applied to test the diagnostic value of hematological parameters to identify the risk of POI.

RESULTS

Women with POI had lower neutrophil (NEUT) and white blood cell (WBC), whereas red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) were higher. Platelet (PLT) count was also lower in affected women. Our data also indicated that HGB and HCT count were significantly associated with rs16991615 and rs244715. Mean Platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) were associated with rs244715, rs1046089, rs4806660, and rs2303369. The rs16991615 was also associated with RBC count, and rs451417 was associated with NEUTs. The decision tree (DT) model reveals that women with the NEUT count at a cut-off value of less than 2.8 and HCT equal to or more than 38.7% could be identified as high-risk cases for POI. Overall, we found the DT approach had a sensitivity = 85%, specificity = 72%, and accuracy = 74%.

CONCLUSION

The genetic variants involved in POI are associated with changes in reproductive hormone levels and with changes in hematological indices.

Gender Difference in the Associations among Heavy Metals with Red Blood Cell Hemogram

This study aimed to investigate gender differences in the association between heavy metals and hemograms including hemoglobin (Hgb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). A health survey of 2447 participants was conducted in southern Taiwan between June 2016 and September 2018. Seven heavy metals were measured: blood lead (Pb), urine nickel (Ni), urine chromium (Cr), urine manganese, urine arsenic (As), urine copper and urine cadmium (Cd). The results show that in females, Pb and Ni were significantly negatively associated with Hgb. In addition, As and Cd were significantly positively, and Pb and Ni were significantly negatively, associated with MCV, in males and females, respectively. The interactions between gender and Ni and gender and Cd in MCV were statistically significant. Further, Pb, in males, and Pb, Ni and Cr, in females, were significantly negatively associated with MCHC. In conclusion, in females, associations of red blood cell (RBC) hemograms with heavy metals such as Pb and Ni were found. In males, heavy metals such as Pb, As and Cd were found to associate with RBC hemograms. Further research is warranted to discuss the mechanism behind these associations.