Impact of obesity on proteomic profiles of follicular fluid-derived small extracellular vesicles: A comparison between PCOS and non-PCOS women

Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder characterized by ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries, significantly impacting reproductive health. Obesity, prevalent in 50–80% of PCOS patients, exacerbates metabolic disturbances and neg...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qiyuan Chang, Senlan Wang, Qingyun Mai, Canquan Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Ovarian Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-025-01703-5
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849469857120124928
author Qiyuan Chang
Senlan Wang
Qingyun Mai
Canquan Zhou
author_facet Qiyuan Chang
Senlan Wang
Qingyun Mai
Canquan Zhou
author_sort Qiyuan Chang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder characterized by ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries, significantly impacting reproductive health. Obesity, prevalent in 50–80% of PCOS patients, exacerbates metabolic disturbances and negatively influences assisted reproductive technology outcomes. This study investigates how obesity alters the proteomic profile of follicular fluid-derived small extracellular vesicles (FF-sEVs), aiming to elucidate mechanisms underlying reproductive impairments in this population. Methods This study included women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), categorized into PCOS and non-PCOS control groups, further divided by BMI. Follicular fluid was collected, and sEVs isolated via ultracentrifugation. Proteomic analysis utilized data-independent acquisition (DIA) technology, with bioinformatics tools applied for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, along with protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Statistical comparisons were performed using Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-tests to identify differentially expressed proteins. Correlation analysis assessed relationships between sEV protein profiles and reproductive outcomes, employing the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results Proteomic profiling of sEVs revealed that the overweight/obese PCOS group had 180 upregulated and 256 downregulated proteins compared to lean counterparts. Additionally, differential functional analysis and PPI analysis indicated significant pathway and key proteins alterations in the PCOS group related to inflammation, while non-PCOS women demonstrated metabolic reprogramming and anti-inflammatory responses, suggesting a differential response to obesity that may preserve oocyte quality. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between specific differentially expressed proteins and IVF/ICSI outcomes, while a protective role for Heat Shock Protein 90 Beta Family Member 1 (HSP90B1) protein was observed in the non-PCOS group. Lastly, validation through Western blot confirmed critical protein expression changes, particularly for S100 Calcium-binding Protein A8 (S100A8), emphasizing the impact of obesity on reproductive health outcomes in PCOS patients. Conclusions In conclusion, our findings indicate that obesity exacerbates inflammation and oxidative stress in PCOS women, adversely affecting oocyte development and IVF/ICSI outcomes. In contrast, non-PCOS women exhibit protective metabolic and inflammatory adaptations. These insights underscore the necessity for tailored fertility management approaches, including weight loss strategies and specific interventions for PCOS patients, to optimize reproductive outcomes and enhance pregnancy success rates.
format Article
id doaj-art-7595522defb84a69ae8a8e6cc76b8150
institution Kabale University
issn 1757-2215
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Ovarian Research
spelling doaj-art-7595522defb84a69ae8a8e6cc76b81502025-08-20T03:25:19ZengBMCJournal of Ovarian Research1757-22152025-06-0118111710.1186/s13048-025-01703-5Impact of obesity on proteomic profiles of follicular fluid-derived small extracellular vesicles: A comparison between PCOS and non-PCOS womenQiyuan Chang0Senlan Wang1Qingyun Mai2Canquan Zhou3Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityReproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityReproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityReproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder characterized by ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries, significantly impacting reproductive health. Obesity, prevalent in 50–80% of PCOS patients, exacerbates metabolic disturbances and negatively influences assisted reproductive technology outcomes. This study investigates how obesity alters the proteomic profile of follicular fluid-derived small extracellular vesicles (FF-sEVs), aiming to elucidate mechanisms underlying reproductive impairments in this population. Methods This study included women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), categorized into PCOS and non-PCOS control groups, further divided by BMI. Follicular fluid was collected, and sEVs isolated via ultracentrifugation. Proteomic analysis utilized data-independent acquisition (DIA) technology, with bioinformatics tools applied for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, along with protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Statistical comparisons were performed using Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-tests to identify differentially expressed proteins. Correlation analysis assessed relationships between sEV protein profiles and reproductive outcomes, employing the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results Proteomic profiling of sEVs revealed that the overweight/obese PCOS group had 180 upregulated and 256 downregulated proteins compared to lean counterparts. Additionally, differential functional analysis and PPI analysis indicated significant pathway and key proteins alterations in the PCOS group related to inflammation, while non-PCOS women demonstrated metabolic reprogramming and anti-inflammatory responses, suggesting a differential response to obesity that may preserve oocyte quality. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between specific differentially expressed proteins and IVF/ICSI outcomes, while a protective role for Heat Shock Protein 90 Beta Family Member 1 (HSP90B1) protein was observed in the non-PCOS group. Lastly, validation through Western blot confirmed critical protein expression changes, particularly for S100 Calcium-binding Protein A8 (S100A8), emphasizing the impact of obesity on reproductive health outcomes in PCOS patients. Conclusions In conclusion, our findings indicate that obesity exacerbates inflammation and oxidative stress in PCOS women, adversely affecting oocyte development and IVF/ICSI outcomes. In contrast, non-PCOS women exhibit protective metabolic and inflammatory adaptations. These insights underscore the necessity for tailored fertility management approaches, including weight loss strategies and specific interventions for PCOS patients, to optimize reproductive outcomes and enhance pregnancy success rates.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-025-01703-5Polycystic ovary syndromeSmall extracellular vesiclesFollicular fluidObesityProteomic analysisAssisted reproductive technology
spellingShingle Qiyuan Chang
Senlan Wang
Qingyun Mai
Canquan Zhou
Impact of obesity on proteomic profiles of follicular fluid-derived small extracellular vesicles: A comparison between PCOS and non-PCOS women
Journal of Ovarian Research
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Small extracellular vesicles
Follicular fluid
Obesity
Proteomic analysis
Assisted reproductive technology
title Impact of obesity on proteomic profiles of follicular fluid-derived small extracellular vesicles: A comparison between PCOS and non-PCOS women
title_full Impact of obesity on proteomic profiles of follicular fluid-derived small extracellular vesicles: A comparison between PCOS and non-PCOS women
title_fullStr Impact of obesity on proteomic profiles of follicular fluid-derived small extracellular vesicles: A comparison between PCOS and non-PCOS women
title_full_unstemmed Impact of obesity on proteomic profiles of follicular fluid-derived small extracellular vesicles: A comparison between PCOS and non-PCOS women
title_short Impact of obesity on proteomic profiles of follicular fluid-derived small extracellular vesicles: A comparison between PCOS and non-PCOS women
title_sort impact of obesity on proteomic profiles of follicular fluid derived small extracellular vesicles a comparison between pcos and non pcos women
topic Polycystic ovary syndrome
Small extracellular vesicles
Follicular fluid
Obesity
Proteomic analysis
Assisted reproductive technology
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-025-01703-5
work_keys_str_mv AT qiyuanchang impactofobesityonproteomicprofilesoffollicularfluidderivedsmallextracellularvesiclesacomparisonbetweenpcosandnonpcoswomen
AT senlanwang impactofobesityonproteomicprofilesoffollicularfluidderivedsmallextracellularvesiclesacomparisonbetweenpcosandnonpcoswomen
AT qingyunmai impactofobesityonproteomicprofilesoffollicularfluidderivedsmallextracellularvesiclesacomparisonbetweenpcosandnonpcoswomen
AT canquanzhou impactofobesityonproteomicprofilesoffollicularfluidderivedsmallextracellularvesiclesacomparisonbetweenpcosandnonpcoswomen