Review of Novel Potential Insulin Resistance Biomarkers in PCOS Patients-The Debate Is Still Open

Research on proteins and peptides that play roles in metabolic regulation, which may be considered potential insulin resistance markers in some medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, obesity and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), has recently gained in interest. PCOS is a common endocrine disorder associated with hyperandrogenemia and failure of ovulation, which is often accompanied by metabolic abnormalities, including obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance. In this review, we focus on less commonly known peptides/proteins and investigate their role as potential biomarkers for insulin resistance in females affected by PCOS. We summarize studies comparing the serum fasting concentration of particular agents in PCOS individuals and healthy controls. Based on our analysis, we propose that, in the majority of studies, the levels of nesfastin-1, myonectin, omentin, neudesin were decreased in PCOS patients, while the levels of the other considered agents (e.g., preptin, gremlin-1, neuregulin-4, xenopsin-related peptide, xenin-25, and galectin-3) were increased. However, there also exist studies presenting contrary results; in particular, most data existing for lipocalin-2 are inconsistent. Therefore, further research is required to confirm those hypotheses, as well as to elucidate the involvement of these factors in PCOS-related metabolic complications.

Automated summary

Research on proteins and peptides that regulate metabolism as potential markers for insulin resistance in conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and PCOS has gained interest. PCOS, an endocrine disorder associated with hyperandrogenemia and ovulation failure, often presents metabolic abnormalities. Studies have shown decreased levels of nesfastin-1, myonectin, omentin, and neudesin in PCOS patients, while increased levels of other agents like preptin, gremlin-1, neuregulin-4, xenopsin-related peptide, xenin-25, and galectin-3 were observed. However, contradictory findings exist, particularly for lipocalin-2. Further research is needed to confirm these hypotheses and understand the role of these factors in PCOS-related metabolic complications.