Proteomic Analysis of Plasma in the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Identifies Novel Markers Involved in Iron Metabolism, Acute-Phase Response, and Inflammation

Abstract

Proteomic analysis of plasma from PCOS patients revealed changes in protein expression in several acute-phase response proteins including isoforms of plasma haptoglobin, alpha2-macroglobulin, and transferrin and in kappa-free light chain. In addition to their role as inflammatory markers, some of these molecules play major roles in iron metabolism, further suggesting that iron metabolism and low-grade chronic inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of insulin-resistant disorders such as PCOS.