Proteomic and metabolomic approaches to the study of polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered a complex multifactorial disorder resulting from the interaction of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle influences. Nontargeted proteomics and metabolomics have been used in the past years with the aim of identifying molecules potentially involved in the pathophysiology of this frequent disorder. The biomolecules identified so far participate in many metabolic pathways, including energy metabolism (glucose and lipid metabolism), protein metabolic processes and protein folding, cytoskeleton structure, immune response, inflammation and iron metabolism, fibrinolysis and thrombosis, oxidative stress and intracellular calcium metabolism. These molecules provide key information about molecular functions altered in PCOS and raise questions concerning their precise role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. The biomolecules identified by nontargeted proteomic and metabolomic approaches should be considered as candidates in future studies aiming to define specific molecular phenotypes of PCOS. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.