MicroRNA and Nutrient Metabolic Protein Signatures in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Their Links to Insulin Resistance and Inflammation

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age, but the relationships between circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and nutrition-related proteins remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the associations of serum miR-146a, miR-642a, and miR-2861 with metabolic and inflammatory markers in PCOS. The study included 62 women with PCOS and 71 healthy controls. Serum miR-146a, miR-642a, and miR-2861 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR, while adiponectin (ADPN), leptin (LEP), retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and testosterone (T) were also assessed. Methodological validation evaluated sample processing conditions, assay precision, and agreement between analytical methods. Compared with controls, women with PCOS showed increased miR-146a expression and decreased miR-642a and miR-2861 expression. ADPN levels were reduced, whereas LEP, RBP4, HOMA-IR, IL-6, and T levels were elevated. miR-146a was negatively correlated with ADPN and positively correlated with LEP, RBP4, HOMA-IR, IL-6, and T. miR-642a was negatively correlated with RBP4, HOMA-IR, and IL-6, while miR-2861 was positively correlated with ADPN. Methodological validation showed acceptable assay stability, precision, and agreement between methods. The model combining the three miRNAs with ADPN, LEP, RBP4, HOMA-IR, IL-6, and T achieved an area under the curve of 0.929, with 82.26% sensitivity and 94.37% specificity. These findings demonstrate coordinated alterations in circulating miRNAs and metabolic markers in PCOS and support further evaluation of their combined diagnostic potential.