Research Update: PCOS with Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin

In this episode, Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, shares understandings regarding the aetiology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) according to the latest research. As a researcher, Elisabet and her team hope to uncover underlying causes of the disease, with the aim of finding better treatments in future. Interestingly, 20 genetic variations have been identified as well as links between androgen exposure in foetal life and epigenetic changes. Tune in to hear more from Professor Stener-Victorin.

*Highlights *

• Potential causes of PCOS (3:00)
• Insights from Elisabet’s research (15:30)
• How excess androgens in utero impact both genders (23:00)
• What causes elevated androgen exposure in utero? (30:00)
• Inflammation – a cause or consequence of PCOS? (37:00)
• Is the microbiome playing a role in PCOS? (39:30)
• The influence of electro-acupuncture on PCOS (42:30)
• Therapeutics on the horizon (52:00)

Useful links and resources

• Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin - https://staff.ki.se/people/elisabet-stener-victorin
• Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin’s research group - https://ki.se/en/fyfa/reproductive-endocrinology-and-metabolism-group-page
• http://ki.se/en/fyfa/reproductive-endocrinology-and-metabolism
• https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/mchri/pcos/guideline

Recent publications

1. Risal, S., et al. Prenatal androgen exposure and transgenerational susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome. Nature medicine 25, 1894-1904 (2019).
2. Risal S. , et al. Prenatal androgen exposure causes a sexually dimorphic transgenerational increase in offspring susceptibility to anxiety disorders. Transl Psychiatry. 2021 Jan 13;11(1):45. doi: 10.1038/s41398-020-01183-9.PMID: 33441551
3. Stener-Victorin, E., et al. Animal models to understand the etiology and pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome. Endocr Rev (2020).
4. Stener-Victorin, E and Deng, Q. Epigenetic inheritance of polycystic ovary syndrome - challenges and opportunities for treatment Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1038/s41574-021-00517-x. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34234312
5. Stener-Victorin E, Deng Q. Transmission of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome via Epigenetic Inheritance. Trends Mol Med. 2021 Jun 11:S1471-4914(21)00129-5. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.05.005. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34127396