Serum polychlorinated biphenyl levels and circulating miRNAs in non-obese women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome

Introduction: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organic lipophilic pollutants that accumulate through diet and increase with age, have been associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and shown to affect microRNA (miRNA) expression. This work aimed to determine if PCBs were associated with circulating miRNAs and whether there were any correlations with serum PCB/miRNA levels and hormonal changes. Methods: 29 non-obese PCOS and 29 healthy control women, with similar age and body mass index (BMI), had their serum miRNAs measured together with 7 indicator PCBs (PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB118, PCB138, PCB153, PCB180) using high resolution gas chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry. Results: <0.05). hsa-miR-193a-5p in PCOS cases correlated with estradiol. Conclusion: In this cohort of women, with no difference in age and BMI, and with similar PCB levels, the miRNAs correlating to PCBs associated with menstrual cycle factors in healthy menstruating controls versus the anovulatory PCOS subjects. The PCB-associated miRNAs did not correlate with non-reproductive hormonal and metabolic parameters. This suggests that PCB effects on miRNAs may result in changes to the hypothalamo-ovarian axis that may thus affect fertility.