leptin and Primary-Ovarian-Insufficiency

Classical Galactosaemia (CG) (OMIM #230400) is a rare inborn error of galactose metabolism caused by deficiency of the enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT). Long-term complications persist in treated patients despite dietary galactose restriction with significant variations in outcomes suggesting epigenetic glycosylation influences. Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is a very significant complication affecting females with follicular depletion noted in early life. We studied specific glycan synthesis, leptin system and inflammatory gene expression in white blood cells as potential biomarkers of infertility in 54 adults with CG adults (27 females and 27 males) (age range 17-51 yr) on a galactose-restricted diet in a multi-site Irish and Dutch study. Gene expression profiles were tested for correlation with a serum Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC)-Immunoglobulin (IgG)-N-glycan galactose incorporation assay and endocrine measurements.. Twenty five CG females (93%) had clinical and biochemical evidence of POI. As expected, the CG female patients, influenced by hormone replacement therapy, and the healthy controls of both genders showed a positive correlation between log leptin and BMI but this correlation was not apparent in CG males. The strongest correlations between serum leptin levels, hormones, G-ratio (galactose incorporation assay) and gene expression data were observed between leptin, its gene and G-Ratios data (r. These results validate our previous findings and provide novel experimental evidence for dysregulation of genes LEP, LEPR, ANXA1, ICAM1 and SEPT4 for CG patients and combined with our findings of abnormalities of IgG glycosylation, hormonal and leptin analyses elaborate on the systemic glycosylation and cell signalling abnormalities evident in CG which likely influence the pathophysiology of POI.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Fucosyltransferases; Galactose; Galactosemias; Humans; Infertility; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Leptin; Middle Aged; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency; Receptors, Leptin; Septins; Young Adult

Women with Turner syndrome (TS) have increased risks of atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. We hypothesized that women with TS have adverse metabolic or inflammatory markers for cardiovascular disease compared with normal women and estrogen-deficient controls. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at University College London Hospitals, UK. One hundred seventeen estrogen-treated women with TS and normal fasting blood glucose were compared with 30 age-matched normal controls and 31 estrogen-treated women with 46,XX premature ovarian failure (POF). The main outcome measures were markers of the metabolic syndrome, including the adipokines IL-6 and leptin, and C-reactive protein (CRP). TS women were more obese than controls (waist circumference, 79.9 +/- 12.4, 73.5 +/- 6.9, and 74.7 +/- 8.6 cm in TS, normal subjects, and POF controls, respectively; P = 0.005; body mass index, 26.8 +/- 5.8, 23.7 +/- 3.2, and 22.9 +/- 3.4 kg/m2; P < 0.001). This obesity was associated with increased CRP (2.9 +/- 1.5, 0.8 +/- 1.0, and 1.2 +/- 0.9 mg/liter; P < 0.001) and IL-6 concentrations (1.5 +/- 0.7, 1.0 +/- 1.5, and 1.2 +/- 0.5 pg/ml; P = 0.014), but lower fasting serum insulin (4.7 +/- 2.3, 6.3 +/- 3.0, and 6.9 +/- 2.9 mIU/ml; P = 0.004), glucose (83 +/- 11, 90 +/- 7, and 90 +/- 7 mg/dl; P < 0.001), and leptin (10.2 +/- 6.3, 14.4 +/- 7.6, and 14.8 +/- 8.1 ng/ml; P = 0.048). Triglyceride concentrations were similar in TS and POF women and were greater than in normal controls (97 +/- 53, 97 +/- 53, and 71 +/- 27 mg/dl; P = 0.024). We conclude that women with TS have various physical and biochemical features suggestive of the metabolic/insulin resistance syndrome, but there is a discrepancy among CRP, IL-6, and leptin, with leptin and fasting insulin concentrations being lower than expected for the degree of obesity. Obesity and estrogen therapy do not fully explain these findings. Women with TS may have specific metabolic defects contributing to cardiovascular risk.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adult; C-Reactive Protein; Female; Humans; Interleukin-6; Leptin; Obesity; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency; Turner Syndrome