title: Expression levels of haem oxygenase-1 in the omental adipose tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Haem oxygenase (HO)-1, an enzyme that degrades haem, plays a key role in the regulation of the inflammatory response and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of HO-1 in the regulation of insulin resistance and glucose tolerance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Omental adipose tissue and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from seven women with PCOS and five healthy controls, matched for BMI and age, were analysed using western blotting and the real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with PCOS were found to have significantly higher fasting and 2-h insulin levels, a significantly higher homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index and a lower fasting glucose-to-insulin ratio (G(0)/I(0)) than the controls. The level of HO-1 protein in omental fat (P = 0.002), and the expression of HO-1 mRNA in omental fat and PBMCs from the women with PCOS were significantly lower (P = 0.002 and 0.05, respectively) than those of the controls. The expression of adiponectin mRNA in omental fat was also significantly lower (P = 0.02) in the women with PCOS than in the controls. However, there were no significant differences in the expression of tumour necrosis factor-α or interleukin-6 between the two groups. The level of HO-1 protein showed a significant positive correlation with the expression of HO-1 mRNA (r(2) = 0.786, P = 0.037) and adiponectin mRNA (r(2) = 0.7276, P <0.05). Serum insulin and glucose levels and BMI showed a significant negative correlation with the level of HO-1 (P< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the HO-1-adiponectin axis may be associated with the regulation of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in women with PCOS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Kok-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Seow
authors.forename: Yu-Hung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jiann-Loung
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Peng-Hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Low-Tone
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Yi-Hsiu
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chi-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Juan
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000201:enzymology*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000201:enzymology*; D009852:Omentum; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1