title: Circulatory microRNA 23a and microRNA 23b and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): the effects of body mass index and sex hormones in an Eastern Han Chinese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the expression of genes involved in various cellular functions related to metabolism, inflammation, and reproduction. This study evaluated the effects of sex hormones and obesity on the expression of circulating miR-23a and miR-23b in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum sex hormones concentrations and body mass index (BMI) were measured in 18 women with PCOS and in 30 healthy women from the East China area and these measurements were correlated with serum miR-23a/b levels. The effect of miR-23a and miR-23b risk factors on occurrence of PCOS and predisposing factors of PCOS on these miRNA expressions were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expressions of miR-23a/b were significantly lower in the women with PCOS than the normal women, and the expression levels of miR-23a/b were positively correlated with each other in the normal women (p = 0.001) but not in the women with PCOS (p > 0.05). In the women with PCOS, miR-23a was positively correlated with BMI (p = 0.03). However, no correlations were found between the levels of miR-23a/b and the sex hormones in the normal and PCOS women. On the other hand, without considering the presence or absence of PCOS, increase in BMI had a positive effect on the levels of circulating miR-23b; while testosterone had negative effects on the levels of circulating miR-23a. Furthermore, the likelihood of women with PCOS decreased by 0.01-fold for every 1 fold increase of miR-23a expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both reduced levels and discordance between the expressions of miR-23a/b were observed in the women with PCOS and miR-23a/b were affected from testosterone and BMI, reversely. Therefore, miR-23a alteration in contrast with miR-23b is a better indicator for evaluation of PCOS than the miR-23b.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, State Key Lab of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College; Institute of Acupuncture Research (WHO collaborating center for traditional medicine) and Institute of Brain Science, Brain Science Collaborative Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Grade 2008 Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Medicine School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Weixi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, State Key Lab of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College; Institute of Acupuncture Research (WHO collaborating center for traditional medicine) and Institute of Brain Science, Brain Science Collaborative Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Grade 2008 Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Medicine School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, State Key Lab of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College; Institute of Acupuncture Research (WHO collaborating center for traditional medicine) and Institute of Brain Science, Brain Science Collaborative Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Grade 2008 Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Medicine School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, State Key Lab of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College; Institute of Acupuncture Research (WHO collaborating center for traditional medicine) and Institute of Brain Science, Brain Science Collaborative Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamadon
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China.
authors.forename: Shien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China.
authors.forename: Fubo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ruijin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China. lxsure@fudan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, State Key Lab of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College; Institute of Acupuncture Research (WHO collaborating center for traditional medicine) and Institute of Brain Science, Brain Science Collaborative Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. fengyi17@fudan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7156-6023
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D003339:Corpus Luteum Hormones / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D034622:RNA Interference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003339:Corpus Luteum Hormones; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; C552430:MIRN23a microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: Obesity; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Sex hormones; miR-23a/b; microRNAs