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Research Interests
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women, with a prevalence of 10-15%. In addition to a reproductive phenotype that results in an increased risk of infertility and pregnancy complications, a majority of women with PCOS have metabolic abnormalities that result in an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and NAFLD. One of the main objectives of our research is to understand the etiology and pathophysiology of PCOS including the role of the gut microbiome using relevant animal and culture models. Another objective is to understand the role of steroid hormones in regulating sex differences in the gut microbiome which are implicated in diseases with sex bias including reproductive, metabolic, autoimmune, and neurological disorders.
Influence of the Gut Microbiome on the PCOS Metabolic Phenotype
One focus of our research is to investigate the role of the intestinal microbial community (gut microbiome) in the etiology and development of the PCOS metabolic phenotype. This research is currently funded by an NIH/NICHD R01 grant (HD095412). While the gut microbiome is perturbed in individuals with obesity or type 2 diabetes, it is unknown whether an altered microbiome influences the development or pathophysiology of PCOS. We recently demonstrated that there are significant changes in the composition of the gut microbiome in women with PCOS and in a letrozole-induced PCOS mouse model compared to controls. We also demonstrated that these changes in the gut microbiome are associated with increased levels of testosterone. We are currently investigating mechanisms involved in the alteration of the gut microbiome in the PCOS mouse model using metagenomic sequencing, metabolomics, and metabolic analyses. Understanding the role of the gut microbiome in PCOS may provide important insight into the pathology of the metabolic phenotype that occurs in women with PCOS and the development of novel treatment options for this disorder, including pre- or probiotic therapies.