Effects of Sex Hormones on Ocular Surface Epithelia: Lessons Learned From Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine abnormality in women of reproductive age. Although its clinical consequences have been known for a long time to extend beyond the reproductive system, with type-2 diabetes and obesity being the most common, the involvement of the ocular surface in PCOS has been described only more recently. The ocular surface is a morphofunctional unit comprising eyelid margin, tear film, cornea, and conjunctiva. Increasing evidence indicates that these structures are under a sex hormone control and relevant diseases such as ocular allergy and dry eye are often caused by alterations in circulating or local steroid hormones levels. Novel treatments targeting sex hormone receptors on ocular surface epithelial cells are also being developed. In this review we aim to describe the current knowledge on the effects of sex hormones at the ocular surface, with a special focus on the effects of androgen imbalance in PCOS.
Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Flavio
F
Mantelli
Department of Endocrinology, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Costanzo
C
Moretti
Department of Ophthalmology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Ilaria
I
Macchi
Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Giacomina
G
Massaro-Giordano
Department of Ophthalmology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Grazia Maria
GM
Cozzupoli
Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Lambiase
Department of Ophthalmology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Stefano
S
Bonini
D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects*; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D013666:Tears / Q000187:drug effects
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface