The role of circadian clock in the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a worldwide disease related to infertility. This intrinsic syndrome affects 5-15% of females under 18-44 age globally. There is still no exact explanation to the cause of PCOS on molecular and genetic level. PCOS has been proved to have a strong genetic predisposition. One of the symptoms of PCOS is the sleep disturbances related to circadian disorder. A numerous research has already been done on relationship between the genetic pathway and other factors in PCOS. Androgen can act as a modulator exert to effect on the receptors in SCN to change circadian rhythms. CYP17A1, one of the most important gene in the aetiology of PCOS, has also been shown as a direct CLOCK-BMAL1 target in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The circadian rhythm and clock genes have already been taken in account to be related with PCOS. The circadian disorder often synergize with the loss of metabolic disorder, the steroidogenesis, to intensify the compromised fertility. This review introduces the physiological links between circadian clocks and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It highlights the present current researches on the molecular level associations between the circadian disorders and PCOS, which introduce a potential cause of it.