miR-483-5p and miR-486-5p are down-regulated in cumulus cells of metaphase II oocytes from women with polycystic ovary syndrome

The aim of this study was to compare the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cumulus cells from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS women. In the present study, miRNA expression profiles of the cumulus cell samples were determined by miRNA microarrays. Quantification of selected miRNAs and predicted target genes was performed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results showed that miR-483-5p and miR-486-5p are significantly decreased in cumulus cells of PCOS patients PCOS (fold change >2, false discovery rate <0.001). qRT-PCR found that four predicted genes, SOCS3, SRF, PTEN and FOXO1, were significantly increased in PCOS cumulus cells (all P < 0.001), and IGF2 (host gene of miR-483-5p) was significantly decreased in PCOS cumulus cells (P < 0.001). These results indicated that miR-483-5p might play an important role in reducing insulin resistance, and that miR-486-5p might promote cumulus cell proliferation through activation of PI3K/Akt. The findings from this study provided new insights into the complex molecular mechanisms involved in PCOS by revealing pathways possibly regulated by miRNAs. The differences in miRNAs (miR-483-5p, miR-486-5p) and their target gene expression in cumulus cells may provide clues for future research and help to explain aberrant follicular development and subfertility in women with PCOS.