Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2014) 34 P218 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.34.P218

SFEBES2014 Poster Presentations Obesity, diabetes, metabolism and cardiovascular (80 abstracts)

Young women with polycystic ovary syndrome have increased concentrations of circulating annexin V-positive microparticles derived predominantly from platelets

Gareth Willis 1 , Katherine Connolly 1 , Kristin Ladell 2 , Kelly Miners 2 , David Price 2 , Irina Guschina 3 , Aled Clayton 4 , Philip James 1 & Aled Rees 1


1Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; 2Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; 3School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; 4Institute of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.


Background: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may have increased cardiovascular (CV) risk but the mechanisms are unclear. Microparticles (MP), small circulating vesicles released from platelets, monocytes and endothelial cells, are elevated in patients with CV disease, and may increase CV risk through altered cell content and/or increased surface exposure of procoagulant phosphatidylserine (PS).

Aims: To compare MP characteristics between women with PCOS and healthy volunteers (HV) with respect to concentration, size, cell origin, lipid composition, PS and microRNA (miR) content.

Methods: Nanoparticle tracking analysis and flow cytometry (CD41 platelet, CD11b monocyte, CD144 endothelial) were used to determine MP size, concentration, cellular origin and annexin V positivity (PS exposure). Fatty acid analysis was performed by gas chromatography and MP microRNA (miR) expression profiles were compared by microarray.

Results: Compared with HV (n=18, age 31±6 years, BMI 30±6 kg/m2), patients with PCOS (n=17, age 31±7 years, BMI 29±6 kg/m2) had increased MP concentrations (PCOS: 11.45±5 x1012/ml; HV: 9.98±4x1012/ml; P=0.03), which correlated with insulin resistance (r=0.53, P=0.03). MP size was unchanged (PCOS: 123±7 nm; HV: 114±4 nm; P=0.18). A greater percentage of MP were annexin V-positive in PCOS patients compared with HV (83.6±18% vs 74±24%, respectively; P≤0.05), but cellular origin did not differ (CD41+ MP: 99.3+/-0.9% [PCOS]; 98.6+/-2.5% [HV]; P=0.27). MP fatty acid concentration (ng per 1x106 MP: 0.009±0.009 [PCOS]; 0.012±0.11 [HV]; P=0.27) and composition was similar, but 16 of >1,200 low expression miRs were differentially expressed (P<0.05), including miRs that target PPAR gamma (miR 1293), hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (miR-551a) and the FSH receptor (miR574-3p).

Conclusions: Women with PCOS have increased circulating concentrations of annexin V-positive MP containing an altered miR cargo which may contribute to increased CV risk.

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