Date of Award

11-2023

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MPhil in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

First Advisor

Rehana Rehman

Second Advisor

Dr Munazza Raza Mirza

Third Advisor

Dr Haq Nawaz Khan

Department

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility in Pakistan. Since no work has been done on proteomic analysis of PCOS in Pakistan, this study aimed to analyse the differential expression of proteins in infertile PCOS and non PCOS groups in comparison to fertile healthy control group and identify the functional protein pathways of PCOS in infertile Pakistani women.
Methodology: Blood samples collected from primary infertile female patients were categorized into 2 groups of cases (30 infertile PCOS and 30 infertile non PCOS) and compared with a group of healthy controls (30 fertile females). Quantification of samples was conducted using Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry technology. Data was analysed using MaxQuant, Perseus, PANTHER and STRING.
Results: Fifty-nine proteins were significantly differentially expressed in PCOS group and sixtynine proteins in non PCOS group, as compared to control group. When PCOS and non PCOS groups were compared, sixty-four proteins were differentially expressed. KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway analysis showed their involvement in complement and coagulation cascades and cholesterol metabolism. Heat map showed an increasing trend of some proteins in fertile vs. both the infertile groups. According to enrichment analysis, these proteins were involved in downregulation of lipase activity, downregulation of cholesterol transport, phospholipid efflux and high density lipoprotein particle remodelling. Other proteins that showed decreasing trend were involved in upregulation of cell death, zymogen activation and response to reactive oxygen species.
Conclusion: The comprehensive analysis revealed significant molecular players and pathways implicated in lipid metabolism and clotting mechanisms of the infertile groups. These v insights, including a thorough proteomic analysis, may hold relevance for understanding potential contributions to the PCOS condition as well as mechanism of anovulatory infertility in PCOS patients.

First Page

1

Last Page

89

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