title: Expression of SET Protein in the Ovaries of Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
abstract: Background. We previously found that expression of SET gene was up-regulated in polycystic ovaries by using microarray. It suggested that SET may be an attractive candidate regulator involved in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, expression and cellular localization of SET protein were investigated in human polycystic and normal ovaries. Method. Ovarian tissues, six normal ovaries and six polycystic ovaries, were collected during transsexual operation and surgical treatment with the signed consent form. The cellular localization of SET protein was observed by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of SET protein were analyzed by Western Blot. Result. SET protein was expressed predominantly in the theca cells and oocytes of human ovarian follicles in both PCOS ovarian tissues and normal ovarian tissues. The level of SET protein expression in polycystic ovaries was triple higher than that in normal ovaries (P < 0.05). Conclusion. SET was overexpressed in polycystic ovaries more than that in normal ovaries. Combined with its localization in theca cells, SET may participate in regulating ovarian androgen biosynthesis and the pathophysiology of hyperandrogenism in PCOS.
authors.affiliation: The State Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Boqun
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xiaonan
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yugui
authors.forename: Gao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lingling
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Diao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feiyang
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiayin
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma