Imperial College London

Emeritus ProfessorStephenFranks

Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction

Emeritus Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology
 
 
 
//

Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 2109s.franks Website

 
 
//

Assistant

 

Miss Kiran Dosanjh +44 (0)20 7594 4217

 
//

Location

 

5009Institute of Reproductive and Developmental BiologyHammersmith Campus

//

Summary

 

Publications

Publication Type
Year
to

355 results found

Eng PC, Phylactou M, Qayum A, Woods C, Lee H, Aziz S, Moore B, Miras AD, Comninos AN, Tan T, Franks S, Dhillo WS, Abbara Aet al., 2024, Obesity-related hypogonadism in women, Endocrine Reviews, Vol: 45, Pages: 171-189, ISSN: 0079-9963

Obesity-related hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is a well-characterized condition in men (termed male obesity-related secondary hypogonadism; MOSH); however, an equivalent condition has not been as clearly described in women. The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is known to increase with obesity, but PCOS is more typically characterized by increased gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (and by proxy luteinizing hormone; LH) pulsatility, rather than by the reduced gonadotropin levels observed in MOSH. Notably, LH levels and LH pulse amplitude are reduced with obesity, both in women with and without PCOS, suggesting that an obesity-related secondary hypogonadism may also exist in women akin to MOSH in men. Herein, we examine the evidence for the existence of a putative non-PCOS “female obesity-related secondary hypogonadism” (FOSH). We précis possible underlying mechanisms for the occurrence of hypogonadism in this context and consider how such mechanisms differ from MOSH in men, and from PCOS in women without obesity. In this review, we consider relevant etiological factors that are altered in obesity and that could impact on GnRH pulsatility to ascertain whether they could contribute to obesity-related secondary hypogonadism including: anti-Müllerian hormone, androgen, insulin, fatty acid, adiponectin, and leptin. More precise phenotyping of hypogonadism in women with obesity could provide further validation for non-PCOS FOSH and preface the ability to define/investigate such a condition.

Journal article

Bøtkjær JA, Poulsen LLC, Noer PR, Grøndahl ML, Englund ALM, Franks S, Hardy K, Oxvig C, Andersen CYet al., 2024, Dynamics of IGF signalling during the ovulatory peak in women undergoing ovarian stimulation., J Clin Endocrinol Metab

CONTEXT: IGF signalling is known to affect human ovarian follicular function during growth and development. However, the role of the IGF system is unknown during the ovulatory peak, which is characterized by profound changes in granulosa cell (GCs) mitosis and function. OBJECTIVE: How is the IGF system expressed and regulated during the midcycle surge in women? DESIGN: Follicular fluid (FF) and granulosa cells (GCs) were collected during the ovulatory peak from two specific time-points. One sample was obtained before oocyte pick up (OPU): before ovulation trigger (OT) (T = 0 h) or at 12, 17, or 32 h after OT, and one sample was obtained at OPU 36 h after OT. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Fifty women undergoing ovarian stimulation were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Gene expression profiles were assessed by microarray analysis of GCs. IGF-related proteins in the FF were assessed by using immunoassays or by determination of activity with a proteinase assay. RESULTS: Expression of proteins promoting IGF activity (i.e., IGF2, PAPPA, and IRS1) together with proliferation markers were downregulated on a transcriptional level in GCs after OT, whereas proteins inhibiting the IGF signal (i.e., IGFBPs, IGF2R, and STC1) were upregulated. STC1 gene expression and protein levels were greatly upregulated after OT with a parallel steep downregulation of PAPP-A proteolytic activity. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that downregulation of IGF signalling mediated by increased STC1 expression is instrumental for the sudden cessation in GC proliferation and onset of differentiation during the ovulatory peak.

Journal article

Bradfield JP, Kember RL, Ulrich A, Balkiyarova Z, Alyass A, Aris IM, Bell JA, Broadaway KA, Chen Z, Chai J-F, Davies NM, Fernandez-Orth D, Bustamante M, Fore R, Ganguli A, Heiskala A, Hottenga J-J, Íñiguez C, Kobes S, Leinonen J, Lowry E, Lyytikainen L-P, Mahajan A, Pitkänen N, Schnurr TM, Have CT, Strachan DP, Thiering E, Vogelezang S, Wade KH, Wang CA, Wong A, Holm LA, Chesi A, Choong C, Cruz M, Elliott P, Franks S, Frithioff-Bøjsøe C, Gauderman WJ, Glessner JT, Gilsanz V, Griesman K, Hanson RL, Kaakinen M, Kalkwarf H, Kelly A, Kindler J, Kähönen M, Lanca C, Lappe J, Lee NR, McCormack S, Mentch FD, Mitchell JA, Mononen N, Niinikoski H, Oken E, Pahkala K, Sim X, Teo Y-Y, Baier LJ, van Beijsterveldt T, Adair LS, Boomsma DI, de Geus E, Guxens M, Eriksson JG, Felix JF, Gilliland FD, Biobank PM, Hansen T, Hardy R, Hivert M-F, Holm J-C, Jaddoe VWV, Järvelin M-R, Lehtimäki T, Mackey DA, Meyre D, Mohlke KL, Mykkänen J, Oberfield S, Pennell CE, Perry JRB, Raitakari O, Rivadeneira F, Saw S-M, Sebert S, Shepherd JA, Standl M, Sørensen TIA, Timpson NJ, Torrent M, Willemsen G, Hypponen E, Power C, Early Growth Genetics Consortium, McCarthy MI, Freathy RM, Widén E, Hakonarson H, Prokopenko I, Voight BF, Zemel BS, Grant SFA, Cousminer DLet al., 2024, Trans-ancestral genome-wide association study of longitudinal pubertal height growth and shared heritability with adult health outcomes, Genome Biology, Vol: 25, ISSN: 1474-7596

BACKGROUND: Pubertal growth patterns correlate with future health outcomes. However, the genetic mechanisms mediating growth trajectories remain largely unknown. Here, we modeled longitudinal height growth with Super-Imposition by Translation And Rotation (SITAR) growth curve analysis on ~ 56,000 trans-ancestry samples with repeated height measurements from age 5 years to adulthood. We performed genetic analysis on six phenotypes representing the magnitude, timing, and intensity of the pubertal growth spurt. To investigate the lifelong impact of genetic variants associated with pubertal growth trajectories, we performed genetic correlation analyses and phenome-wide association studies in the Penn Medicine BioBank and the UK Biobank. RESULTS: Large-scale growth modeling enables an unprecedented view of adolescent growth across contemporary and 20th-century pediatric cohorts. We identify 26 genome-wide significant loci and leverage trans-ancestry data to perform fine-mapping. Our data reveals genetic relationships between pediatric height growth and health across the life course, with different growth trajectories correlated with different outcomes. For instance, a faster tempo of pubertal growth correlates with higher bone mineral density, HOMA-IR, fasting insulin, type 2 diabetes, and lung cancer, whereas being taller at early puberty, taller across puberty, and having quicker pubertal growth were associated with higher risk for atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION: We report novel genetic associations with the tempo of pubertal growth and find that genetic determinants of growth are correlated with reproductive, glycemic, respiratory, and cardiac traits in adulthood. These results aid in identifying specific growth trajectories impacting lifelong health and show that there may not be a single "optimal" pubertal growth pattern.

Journal article

Beaumont RN, Flatley C, Vaudel M, Wu X, Chen J, Moen G-H, Skotte L, Helgeland O, Sole-Navais P, Banasik K, Albinana C, Ronkainen J, Fadista J, Stinson SE, Trajanoska K, Wang CA, Westergaard D, Srinivasan S, Sanchez-Soriano C, Bilbao JR, Allard C, Groleau M, Kuulasmaa T, Leirer DJ, White F, Jacques P-E, Cheng H, Hao K, Andreassen OA, Asvold BO, Atalay M, Bhatta L, Bouchard L, Brumpton BM, Brunak S, Bybjerg-Grauholm J, Ebbing C, Elliott P, Engelbrechtsen L, Erikstrup C, Estarlich M, Franks S, Gaillard R, Geller F, Grove J, Hougaard DM, Kajantie E, Morgen CS, Nohr EA, Nyegaard M, Palmer CNA, Pedersen OB, Rivadeneira F, Sebert S, Shields BM, Stoltenberg C, Surakka I, Thorner LW, Ullum H, Vaarasmaki M, Vilhjalmsson BJ, Willer CJ, Lakka TA, Gybel-Brask D, Bustamante M, Hansen T, Pearson ER, Reynolds RM, Ostrowski SR, Pennell CE, Jaddoe VWV, Felix JF, Hattersley AT, Melbye M, Lawlor DA, Hveem K, Werge T, Nielsen HS, Magnus P, Evans DM, Jacobsson B, Jaervelin M-R, Zhang G, Hivert M-F, Johansson S, Freathy RM, Feenstra B, Njolstad PRet al., 2023, Genome-wide association study of placental weight identifies distinct and shared genetic influences between placental and fetal growth, Nature Genetics, Vol: 55, Pages: 1807-1817, ISSN: 1061-4036

A well-functioning placenta is essential for fetal and maternal health throughout pregnancy. Using placental weight as a proxy for placental growth, we report genome-wide association analyses in the fetal (n = 65,405), maternal (n = 61,228) and paternal (n = 52,392) genomes, yielding 40 independent association signals. Twenty-six signals are classified as fetal, four maternal and three fetal and maternal. A maternal parent-of-origin effect is seen near KCNQ1. Genetic correlation and colocalization analyses reveal overlap with birth weight genetics, but 12 loci are classified as predominantly or only affecting placental weight, with connections to placental development and morphology, and transport of antibodies and amino acids. Mendelian randomization analyses indicate that fetal genetically mediated higher placental weight is causally associated with preeclampsia risk and shorter gestational duration. Moreover, these analyses support the role of fetal insulin in regulating placental weight, providing a key link between fetal and placental growth.

Journal article

Ollila M-M, Arffman RK, Korhonen E, Morin-Papunen L, Franks S, Junttila J, Piltonen TTet al., 2023, Women with PCOS have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease regardless of diagnostic criteria - a prospective population-based cohort study, European Journal of Endocrinology, Vol: 189, Pages: 96-105, ISSN: 0804-4643

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with many cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. However, it remains debatable whether the presence of multiple CVD risk factors translates to increased CVD events. DESIGN: A prospective, population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. METHODS: Individuals with an expected date of birth in 1966 in Northern Finland have been followed from birth. Women in the cohort were classified as having PCOS according to either the National Institute of Health (NIH) criteria (n = 144) or the Rotterdam criteria (n = 386) at age 31, and they were compared to women without any PCOS features. The study population was re-examined at age 46, and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, heart failure and cardiovascular mortality, was recorded up to age 53. RESULTS: During the 22-year follow-up, both women with NIH-PCOS and women with Rotterdam-PCOS had a significantly higher risk for cardiovascular events than control women. The BMI-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for MACE in the Rotterdam-PCOS group and the NIH-PCOS group was 2.33 (1.26-4.30) and 2.47 (1.18-5.17), respectively. The cumulative hazard curves in both diagnostic categories began to diverge at age 35. Regarding the individual CVD endpoints, MI was significantly more prevalent in both women with NIH-PCOS (P = .010) and women with Rotterdam-PCOS (P = .019), when compared to control women. CONCLUSIONS: PCOS should be considered a significant risk factor for CVD. Future follow-up will show how the risk of CVD events develops after menopausal age.

Journal article

Laru J, Pinola P, Ojaniemi M, Korhonen E, Laikari L, Franks S, Piltonen TT, Tapanainen JS, Niinimaeki M, Morin-Papunen Let al., 2023, Low testosterone at age 31 associates with maternal obesity and higher body mass index from childhood until age 46: A birth cohort study, ANDROLOGY, ISSN: 2047-2919

Journal article

Piltonen TT, Komsi E, Morin-Papunen LC, Korhonen E, Franks S, Jarvelin M-R, Arffman RK, Ollila M-Met al., 2023, AMH as part of the diagnostic PCOS workup in large epidemiological studies, EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY, Vol: 188, Pages: 547-554, ISSN: 0804-4643

Journal article

Franks S, 2023, Different phenotypes of PCOS: Implications to clinical practice, Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS, ISSN: 0268-1161

Conference paper

Ikhlaq H, Franks S, 2023, Polycystic ovary syndrome: The influence of ethnicity and body mass, Publisher: WILEY, Pages: 17-17, ISSN: 1470-0328

Conference paper

Piltonen T, Morin-Papunen L, Ollila M-M, Tapanainen J, Arffman R, Jaervelin M-R, Franks Set al., 2023, Women self-reporting PCOS symptoms should not be overlooked, HUMAN REPRODUCTION, Vol: 38, Pages: 189-190, ISSN: 0268-1161

Journal article

Laru J, Ojaniemi M, Franks S, Jarvelin M-R, Korhonen E, Piltonen TT, Sebert S, Tapanainen JS, Morin-Papunen Let al., 2022, An optimal growth pattern during pregnancy and early childhood associates with better fertility in men, EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY, Vol: 187, Pages: 847-858, ISSN: 0804-4643

Journal article

Pölönen J, Pinola P, Ronkainen J, Blakemore AI, Buxton JL, Tapanainen JS, Franks S, Piltonen TT, Sebert S, Morin-Papunen Let al., 2022, Polycystic ovary syndrome and leukocyte telomere length: cross-sectional and longitudinal changes, European Journal of Endocrinology, Vol: 187, Pages: 651-661, ISSN: 0804-4643

Objective Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that protect chromosome ends from DNA damage and are surrogate biomarkers of cellular ageing. Current evidence, almost entirely from cross-sectional observations, supports negative associations between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and adverse lifestyle factors and cardio-metabolic risk factors. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common gynecological endocrine disorder, is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, both factors associated with accelerated telomere attrition. We therefore hypothesized that LTL would be shorter and decrease more rapidly in women with PCOS in comparison to a control population. Design Population-based cohort study: women of Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, with clinical examinations at ages 31 and 46. The sample included self-reported PCOS (PCOS) (age 31:N=190; age 46:N=207) and referent women (age 31:N=1054; age 46:N=1324) with data on LTL. Methods The association between LTL and PCOS at ages 31 and 46 was analyzed by linear regression models adjusted for BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption and socioeconomic status at the corresponding age. Results Women with PCOS had similar mean LTL at ages 31 and 46 (P>0.4 for both). The mean LTL change between ages 31 and 46 did not differ between groups (P=0.19). However, we observed a significant LTL attrition between ages 31 and 46 in the reference population (P<0.001), but not in women with PCOS (P=0.96). Conclusions This finding may suggest a difference in LTL attrition rate in women with PCOS, an unexpected finding that might affect their risk of age-related disease. Further research is needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms.

Journal article

Joham AE, Norman RJ, Stener-Victorin E, Legro RS, Franks S, Moran LJ, Boyle J, Teede HJet al., 2022, Polycystic ovary syndrome, LANCET DIABETES & ENDOCRINOLOGY, Vol: 10, Pages: 668-680, ISSN: 2213-8587

Journal article

Kujanpaa L, Arffman RK, Pesonen P, Korhonen E, Karjula S, Jarvelin M-R, Franks S, Tapanainen JS, Morin-Papunen L, Piltonen TTet al., 2022, Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are burdened with multimorbidity and medication use independent of body mass index at late fertile age: a population-based cohort study, Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, Vol: 101, Pages: 728-736, ISSN: 0001-6349

IntroductionThis population-based follow-up study investigated the comorbidities, medication use, and healthcare services among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) at age 46 years.Material and methodsThe study population derived from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 and consisted of women reporting oligo/amenorrhea and hirsutism at age 31 years and/or a PCOS diagnosis by age 46 years (n = 246) and controls without PCOS symptoms or diagnosis (n = 1573), referred to as non-PCOS women. The main outcome measures were self-reported data on symptoms, diagnosed diseases, and medication and healthcare service use at the age of 46 years.ResultsOverall morbidity risk was increased by 35% (risk ratio [RR] 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16–1.57) and medication use by 27% [RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.08–1.50) compared with non-PCOS women, and the risk remained after adjusting for body mass index. Diagnoses with increased prevalence in women with PCOS were migraine, hypertension, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, fractures, and endometriosis. PCOS was also associated with autoimmune diseases and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and symptoms. Interestingly, healthcare service use did not differ between the study groups after adjusting for body mass index.ConclusionsWomen with PCOS are burdened with multimorbidity and higher medication use, independent of body mass index.

Journal article

Kristensen SG, Kumar A, Mamsen LS, Kalra B, Pors SE, Botkjaer JA, Macklon KT, Fedder J, Ernst E, Hardy K, Franks S, Andersen CYet al., 2022, Intrafollicular concentrations of the oocyte-secreted factors GDF9 and BMP15 vary inversely in polycystic ovaries, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol: 107, Pages: E3374-E3383, ISSN: 0021-972X

ContextThe oocyte-secreted factors growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) play essential roles in follicle development and oocyte maturation, and aberrant regulation might contribute to the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome.ObjectiveAre there measurable differences in concentrations of GDF9, BMP15, and the GDF9/BMP15 heterodimer in small antral follicle fluids from women with and without polycystic ovaries (PCO)?Design and SettingFollicle fluids (n = 356) were collected from 4- to 11-mm follicles in unstimulated ovaries of 87 women undergoing ovarian tissue cryopreservation for fertility preservation.PatientsTwenty-seven women with PCO were identified and 60 women without PCO-like characteristics (non-PCO women) were matched according to age and follicle size.Main outcome measuresIntrafollicular concentrations of GDF9, BMP15, GDF9/BMP15 heterodimer, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), inhibin-A and -B, total inhibin, activin-B and -AB, and follistatin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.ResultsThe detectability of GDF9, BMP15, and the GDF9/BMP15 heterodimer were 100%, 94.4%, and 91.5%, respectively, and concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with increasing follicle size (P < 0.0001). GDF9 was significantly higher in women with PCO (PCO: 4230 ± 189 pg/mL [mean ± SEM], n = 188; non-PCO: 3498 ± 199 pg/mL, n = 168; P < 0.03), whereas BMP15 was lower in women with PCO (PCO: 431 ± 40 pg/mL, n = 125; non-PCO: 573 ± 55 pg/mL, n = 109; P = 0.10), leading to a significantly higher GDF9:BMP15 ratio in women with PCO (P < 0.01). Significant positive associations between BMP15 and AMH, activins, and inhibins in non-PCO women switched to negative associations in women with PCO.ConclusionsIntrafollicular concentrations of GDF9 and BMP15 varied inversely in women with PCO reflecting an aberrant endocrine environment. An increased GDF9:BMP15 ratio may be a new

Journal article

Karjula S, Arffman RK, Morin-Papunen L, Franks S, Jarvelin M-R, Tapanainen JS, Miettunen J, Piltonen TTet al., 2022, A population-based follow-up study shows high psychosis risk in women with PCOS, Archives of Womens Mental Health, Vol: 25, Pages: 301-311, ISSN: 1434-1816

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting up to 18% of women. Besides metabolic and fertility aspects, attention has lately been directed towards the detrimental effect of PCOS on psychological health. The objective of the study was to investigate whether women with PCOS are at higher risk for psychotic disorders. The study population derives from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (N = 5889 women). The women with PCOS were identified by two simple questions on oligo-amenorrhea and hirsutism at age 31. Women reporting both symptoms were considered PCOS (N = 124) and asymptomatic women as controls (N = 2145). The diagnosis of psychosis was traced using multiple national registers up to the year 2016. Symptoms of psychopathology were identified using validated questionnaires at age 31. Women with PCOS showed an increased risk for any psychosis by age 50 (HR [95% CI] 2.99, [1.52–5.82]). Also, the risk for psychosis after age 31 was increased (HR 2.68 [1.21–5.92]). The results did not change after adjusting for parental history of psychosis, nor were they explained by body mass index or hyperandrogenism at adulthood. The scales of psychopathology differed between women with PCOS and non-PCOS controls showing more psychopathologies among the affected women. PCOS cases were found to be at a three-fold risk for psychosis, and they had increased psychopathological symptoms. PCOS should be taken into consideration when treating women in psychiatric care. More studies are required to further assess the relationship between PCOS and psychotic diseases.

Journal article

Sayers S, Anujan P, Yu H, Palmer S, Nautiyal J, Franks S, Hanyaloglu Aet al., 2022, Follicle-stimulating hormone induces lipid droplets via Gαi/o and β- arrestin in an endometrial cancer cell line, Frontiers in Endocrinology, Vol: 12, Pages: 1-15, ISSN: 1664-2392

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and its G protein-coupled receptor, FSHR, represents a paradigm for receptor signaling systems that activate multiple and complex pathways. Classically, FSHR activates Gαs to increase intracellular levels of cAMP, but its ability to activate other G proteins, and β-arrestin-mediated signaling is well documented in many different cell systems. The pleiotropic signal capacity of FSHR offers a mechanism for how FSH drives multiple and dynamic downstream functions in both gonadal and non-gonadal cell types, including distinct diseases, and how signal bias may be achieved at a pharmacological and cell system-specific manner. In this study, we identify an additional mechanism of FSH-mediated signaling and downstream function in the endometrial adenocarcinoma Ishikawa cell line. While FSH did not induce increases in cAMP levels, this hormone potently activated pertussis toxin sensitive Gαi/o signaling. A selective allosteric FSHR ligand, B3, also activated Gαi/o signaling in these cells, supporting a role for receptor-mediated activation despite the low levels of FSHR mRNA. The low expression levels may attribute to the lack of Gαs/cAMP signaling as increasing FSHR expression resulted in FSH-mediated activation of the Gαs pathway. Unlike prior reports for FSH-mediated Gαs/cAMP signaling, FSH-mediated Gαi/o signaling was not affected by inhibition of dynamin-dependent receptor internalization. While chronic FSH did not alter cell viability, FSH was able to increase lipid droplet size. The β-arrestins are key adaptor proteins known to regulate FSHR signaling. Indeed, a rapid, FSH-dependent increase in interactions between β-arrestin1 and Gαi1 was observed via NanoBiT complementation in Ishikawa cells. Furthermore, both inhibition of Gαi/o signaling and siRNA knockdown of β-arrestin 1/2 significantly reduced FSH-induced lipid droplet accumulation, implying a role for a

Journal article

Laru J, Nedelec R, Koivuaho E, Ojaniemi M, Järvelin M-R, Tapanainen JS, Franks S, Tolvanen M, Piltonen TT, Sebert S, Morin-Papunen Let al., 2021, BMI in childhood and adolescence is associated with impaired reproductive function-a population-based cohort study from birth to age 50 years, Human Reproduction, Vol: 36, Pages: 2948-2961, ISSN: 0268-1161

STUDY QUESTION: What is the association between childhood and adolescent BMI and reproductive capacity in women? SUMMARY ANSWER: Adolescent girls with obesity had an increased risk of infertility and childlessness in adulthood independently of their marital status or the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Girls with obesity (BMI (kg/m2)>95th percentile) more often exhibit menstrual irregularities and infertility problems as compared to those with normal weight, and premenarcheal girls with obesity have an increased risk of childlessness and infertility in adulthood. Follow-up studies on the relation between childhood and adolescence growth patterns and fertility or parity throughout the reproductive life span are limited. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A prospective, population-based cohort study (the Northern Finland birth cohort 1966) was performed with 5889 women born in 1966 and followed from birth to age 50 years. Postal questionnaires at ages 31 and 46 years addressed questions on reproductive capacity evaluated by decreased fecundability, need for infertility assessment and treatment by 46 years of age. Childlessness and number of children by age 50 years were recovered from registers. Women who did not report ever having attempted to achieve pregnancy (n = 1507) were excluded. The final study population included 4382 women who attempted to achieve pregnancy before age 46 years. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Data on BMI were collected by trained personnel at all stages. We assessed association with both prospectively measured BMI at various time points and with early adiposity phenotypes derived from linear mixed models including the timing and the BMI at adiposity peak (AP) and adiposity rebound (AR). Self-reported infertility assessments and treatments were assessed at ages 31 and 46 years. Data on deliveries were collected from the national birth registe

Journal article

Tuorila K, Ollila M-M, Järvelin M-R, Tapanainen JS, Franks S, Puukka K, Piltonen TT, Morin-Papunen Let al., 2021, Hyperandrogenemia in early adulthood is an independent risk factor for abnormal glucose metabolism in middle age, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol: 106, Pages: e4621-e4633, ISSN: 0021-972X

CONTEXT: The role of androgen excess as a contributing factor to abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM) and insulin resistance in women remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hyperandrogenemia (HA) estimated by serum testosterone (T) level and free androgen index (FAI) at ages 31 and 46 is associated with insulin resistance, insulin secretion and AGM by age 46. DESIGN: Prospective study including 5,889 females followed at ages 31 and 46. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: Women with HA were compared with normoandrogenic women at ages 31 and 46. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: AGM, including pre-diabetes and T2DM, homeostatic model assessments of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and of pancreatic β-cell function (HOMA-B). RESULTS: At age 31, HA women displayed increased HOMA-IR P=0.05), HOMA-B (P=0.006), and higher fasting insulin (P=0.034) than normoandrogenic women after adjusting for body mass index (BMI). At age 46, there was a nonsignificant trend towards higher fasting glucose (P=0.07) and glycated hemoglobin A1 (P=0.067) levels in HA women. Women in the highest T quartile (odds ratio [OR]= 1.80;95%CI, 1.15-2.82) at age 31 and in the two highest FAI quartiles at ages 31 (Q4:OR=3.76;95%CI, 2.24-6.32) and 46 (Q4:OR=2.79;95%CI, 1.74-4.46) had increased risk for AGM, independently of BMI, when compared with women in Q1. Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was inversely associated with AGM (at age 31:Q4:OR=0.37;95%CI, 0.23-0.60, at age 46:Q4:OR=0.28;95%CI, 0.17-0.44). CONCLUSION: Hyperandrogenemia and low SHBG in early and middle age associates with AGM independently of BMI.

Journal article

Barber TM, Franks S, 2021, Obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome, Clinical Endocrinology, Vol: 95, Pages: 531-541, ISSN: 0300-0664

The increased global prevalence of obesity over the last 40‐years has driven a rise in prevalence of obesity‐related co‐morbidities, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). On a background of genetic susceptibility, PCOS often becomes clinically manifest following weight gain, commonly during adolescence. A common endocrinopathy affecting between 6%‐10% of reproductive‐age women, PCOS presents with the cardinal features of hyperandrogenism, reproductive and metabolic dysfunction. PCOS associates with insulin resistance, independently of (but amplified by) obesity. Insulin resistance in PCOS is characterized by abnormal post‐receptor signalling within the phosphatidylinositol‐kinase (PI3‐K) pathway. Multiple factors (including most notably, weight gain) contribute towards the severity of insulin resistance in PCOS. Compensatory hyperinsulinaemia ensues, resulting in over‐stimulation of the (intact) post‐receptor mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAP‐K) insulin pathway, with consequent implications for steroidogenesis and ovarian function. In this concise review, we explore the effects of weight gain and obesity on the pathogenesis of PCOS from the perspective of its three cardinal features of hyperandrogenism, reproductive and metabolic dysfunction, with a focus on the central mediating role of the insulin pathway. We also consider key lifestyle strategies for the effective management of obese and overweight women with PCOS.

Journal article

Abou Sherif S, Newman R, Haboosh S, Al-Sharefi A, Papanikolaou N, Dimakopoulou A, Webber LJ, Abbara A, Franks S, Dhillo WS, Jayasena CNet al., 2021, Investigating the potential of clinical and biochemical markers to differentiate between functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea and polycystic ovarian syndrome: A retrospective observational study, CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Vol: 95, Pages: 618-627, ISSN: 0300-0664

Journal article

Hopkins T, Bemmer V, Franks S, Dunlop C, Hardy K, Dunlop Iet al., 2021, Micromechanical mapping of the intact ovary interior reveals contrasting mechanical roles for follicles and stroma, Biomaterials, Vol: 277, Pages: 1-9, ISSN: 0142-9612

Follicle development in the ovary must be tightly regulated to ensure cyclical release of oocytes (ovulation). Disruption of this process is a common cause of infertility, for example via polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Recent ex vivo studies suggest that follicle growth is mechanically regulated, however, crucially, the actual mechanical properties of the follicle microenvironment have remained unknown. Here we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) spherical probe indentation to map and quantify the mechanical microenvironment in the mouse ovary, at high resolution and across the entire width of the intact (bisected) ovarian interior. Averaging over the entire organ, we find the ovary to be a fairly soft tissue comparable to fat or kidney (mean Young’s Modulus 3.3 +/-2.5 kPa). This average, however, conceals substantial spatial variations, with the overall range of tissue stiffnesses from c. 0.5 –10 kPa, challenging the concept that a single Young’s Modulus can effectively summarize this complex organ. Considering the internal architecture of the ovary, we find that stiffness is low at the edge and centre which are dominated by stromal tissue, and highest in an intermediate zone that is dominated by large developmentally-advanced follicles, confirmed by comparison with immunohistology images. These results suggest that largefollicles are mechanically dominant structures in the ovary, contrasting with previous expectations that collagen-rich stroma would dominate. Extending our study to the highest resolutions (c. 5 μm) showed substantial mechanical variations within the larger zones, even over very short (sub-100 μm) lengths, and especially within the stiffer regions of the ovary. Taken together, our results provide a new, physiologically accurate, framework for ovaria

Journal article

Surendran P, Feofanova EV, Lahrouchi N, Ntalla I, Karthikeyan S, Cook J, Chen L, Mifsud B, Yao C, Kraja AT, Cartwright JH, Hellwege JN, Giri A, Tragante V, Thorleifsson G, Liu DJ, Prins BP, Stewart ID, Cabrera CP, Eales JM, Akbarov A, Auer PL, Bielak LF, Bis JC, Braithwaite VS, Brody JA, Daw EW, Warren HR, Drenos F, Nielsen SF, Faul JD, Fauman EB, Fava C, Ferreira T, Foley CN, Franceschini N, Gao H, Giannakopoulou O, Giulianini F, Gudbjartsson DF, Guo X, Harris SE, Havulinna AS, Helgadottir A, Huffman JE, Hwang S-J, Kanoni S, Kontto J, Larson MG, Li-Gao R, Lindstrom J, Lotta LA, Lu Y, Luan J, Mahajan A, Malerba G, Masca NGD, Mei H, Menni C, Mook-Kanamori DO, Mosen-Ansorena D, Muller-Nurasyid M, Pare G, Paul DS, Perola M, Poveda A, Rauramaa R, Richard M, Richardson TG, Sepulveda N, Sim X, Smith AV, Smith JA, Staley JR, Stanakova A, Sulem P, Theriault S, Thorsteinsdottir U, Trompet S, Varga TV, Velez Edwards DR, Veronesi G, Weiss S, Willems SM, Yao J, Young R, Yu B, Zhang W, Zhao J-H, Zhao W, Zhao W, Evangelou E, Aeschbacher S, Asllanaj E, Blankenberg S, Bonnycastle LL, Bork-Jensen J, Brandslund I, Braund PS, Burgess S, Cho K, Christensen C, Connell J, de Mutsert R, Dominiczak AF, Dorr M, Eiriksdottir G, Farmaki A-E, Gaziano JM, Grarup N, Grove ML, Hallmans G, Hansen T, Have CT, Heiss G, Jorgensen ME, Jousilahti P, Kajantie E, Kamat M, Karajamaki A, Karpe F, Koistinen HA, Kovesdy CP, Kuulasmaa K, Laatikainen I, Lannfelt L, Lee I-T, Lee W-J, Linneberg A, Martin LW, Moitry M, Nadkarni G, Neville MJ, Palmer CNA, Papanicolaou GJ, Pedersen O, Peters J, Poulter N, Rasheed A, Rasmussen KL, Rayner NW, Magi R, Renstrom F, Rettig R, Rossouw J, Schreiner PJ, Sever PS, Sigurdsson EL, Skaaby T, Sun YV, Sundstrom J, Thorgeirsson G, Esko T, Trabetti E, Tsao PS, Tuomi T, Turner ST, Tzoulaki I, Vaartjes I, Vergnaud A-C, Willer CJ, Wilson PWF, Witte DR, Yonova-Doing E, Zhang H, Aliya N, Almgren P, Amouyel P, Asselbergs FW, Barnes MR, Blakemore AI, Boehnke M, Bots ML, Bottinger EP, Buriet al., 2021, Publisher Correction: Discovery of rare variants associated with blood pressure regulation through meta-analysis of 1.3 million individuals, Nature Genetics, Vol: 53, Pages: 1-2, ISSN: 1061-4036

Journal article

Rantakallio JSS, Nevalainen JE, West S, Ollila M-M, Puukka K, Bloigu AH, Jarvelin M-R, Tapanainen JS, Franks S, Dunkel L, Piltonen TT, Vaarasmaki MS, Morin-Papunen LCet al., 2021, Association of Self-Reported Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Obesity, and Weight Gain From Adolescence to Adulthood With Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy A Community-Based Approach, HYPERTENSION, Vol: 77, Pages: 1010-1019, ISSN: 0194-911X

Journal article

Al Wattar BH, Bueno A, Martin MG, Ibáñez NC, Harasani K, Garad R, Franks S, Balen A, Bhide P, Piltonen T, Romualdi D, Laven J, Moss N, Andrews C, Hawkes R, Mol BW, Teede H, Thangaratinam S, Khan KSet al., 2021, Harmonizing research outcomes for polycystic ovary syndrome (HARP), a marathon not a sprint: current challenges and future research need, Human Reproduction, Vol: 36, Pages: 523-528, ISSN: 0268-1161

Investing in clinical research and evidence-based medicine has helped to improve the care for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, several important questions remain unanswered on the optimal prevention and management strategies for PCOS. Addressing this uncertainty is often hindered by suboptimal research conduct leading to inefficient evidence synthesis and research wastage. PCOS research is often practised by varied specialized teams in silo leading to disharmonious and fragmented efforts neglecting the lifelong impact of PCOS on women's wellbeing. Poor engagement among key stakeholders and lay consumers continues to limit the impact and benefits of research to society. Selective reporting on surrogate outcomes with a 'significant' P-value is a common malpractice in PCOS outputs. Effective adoption of the harmonizing research outcomes for PCOS (HARP) core outcome set is needed to minimize heterogeneity in reporting and promote research excellence. Small single-centre studies offer limited value to assess the varied PCOS phenotypes. Efficient large scale data-sharing is needed to address complex research questions and glean the benefits of big data research. We propose a roadmap to address these challenges and remedy future research need by promoting patient and public involvement in PCOS research to guide research efforts and address real patients' needs; engaging all key stakeholder groups to promote a multi-disciplinary lifelong approach to new research; continuously refining research needs and priorities to revise the knowledge gap and allocate resources judiciously; standardizing outcomes definitions and measurement tools to harmonize reporting and promote excellence in research; and by investing in large data-sharing infrastructure to facilitate big data research and govern ethical data sharing.

Journal article

Lüll K, Arffman RK, Sola-Leyva A, Molina NM, Aasmets O, Herzig K-H, Plaza-Díaz J, Franks S, Morin-Papunen L, Tapanainen JS, Salumets A, Altmäe S, Piltonen TT, Org Eet al., 2021, The Gut microbiome in polycystic ovary syndrome and its association with metabolic traits, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol: 106, Pages: 858-871, ISSN: 0021-972X

CONTEXT: Despite gut microbiome being widely studied in metabolic diseases, its role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been scarcely investigated. OBJECTIVE: Compare the gut microbiome in late fertile age women with and without PCOS and investigate whether changes in the gut microbiome correlate with PCOS-related metabolic parameters. DESIGN: Prospective, case-control study using the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: 102 PCOS women and 201 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched non-PCOS control women. Clinical and biochemical characteristics of the participants were assessed at ages 31 and 46 and analyzed in the context of gut microbiome data at the age of 46. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Bacterial diversity, relative abundance, and correlations with PCOS-related metabolic measures. RESULTS: Bacterial diversity indices did not differ significantly between PCOS and controls (Shannon diversity p = 0.979, unweighted UniFrac p = 0.175). Four genera whose balance helps to differentiate between PCOS and non-PCOS were identified. In the whole cohort, the abundance of two genera from Clostridiales, Ruminococcaceae UCG-002 and Clostridiales Family XIII AD3011 group, were correlated with several PCOS-related markers. Prediabetic PCOS women had significantly lower alpha diversity (Shannon diversity p = 0.018) and markedly increased abundance of genus Dorea (FDR = 0.03) compared to women with normal glucose tolerance. CONCLUSION: PCOS and non-PCOS women at late fertile age with similar BMI do not significantly differ in their gut microbial profiles. However, there are significant microbial changes in PCOS individuals depending on their metabolic health.

Journal article

Hopkins T, Bemmer V, Franks S, Dunlop C, Hardy K, Dunlop Iet al., 2021, Mapping the mechanical microenvironment in the ovary, Publisher: Bioarxiv

Follicle development in the human ovary must be tightly regulated to ensure cyclical release of oocytes (ovulation), and disruption of this process is a common cause of infertility. Recent ex vivo studies suggest that follicle growth may be mechanically regulated, however the actual mechanical properties of the follicle microenvironment have remained unknown. Here we map and quantify the mechanical microenvironment in mouse ovaries using colloidal probe atomic force microscope (AFM) indentation, finding an overall mean Young's Modulus 3.3 ± 2.5 kPa. Spatially, stiffness is low at the ovarian edge and centre, which are dominated by extra-follicular ECM, and highest in an intermediate zone dominated by large follicles. This suggests that large follicles should be considered as mechanically dominant structures in the ovary, in contrast to previous expectations. Our results provide a new, physiologically accurate framework for investigating how mechanics impacts follicle development and will underpin future tissue engineering of the ovary.

Working paper

Siemienowicz KJ, Coukan F, Franks S, Rae MT, Duncan WCet al., 2021, Aberrant subcutaneous adipogenesis precedes adult metabolic dysfunction in an ovine model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Vol: 519, ISSN: 0303-7207

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects over 10% of women. Insulin resistance, elevated free fatty acids (FFAs) and increased adiposity are key factors contributing to metabolic dysfunction in PCOS. We hypothesised that aberrant adipogenesis during adolescence, and downstream metabolic perturbations, contributes to the metabolic phenotype of adult PCOS. We used prenatally androgenised (PA) sheep as a clinically realistic model of PCOS. During adolescence, but not during fetal or early life of PA sheep, adipogenesis was decreased in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) accompanied by decreased leptin, adiponectin, and increased FFAs. In adulthood, PA sheep developed adipocyte hypertrophy in SAT paralleled by increased expression of inflammatory markers, elevated FFAs and increased expression of genes linked to fat accumulation in visceral adipose tissue. This study provides better understanding into the pathophysiology of PCOS from puberty to adulthood and identifies opportunity for early clinical intervention to normalise adipogenesis and ameliorate the metabolic phenotype.

Journal article

Lerner A, Kewada D, Ahmed A, Hardy K, Christian M, Franks Set al., 2021, Androgen reduces mitochondrial respiration in mouse brown adipocytes: a model for disordered energy balance in polycystic ovary syndrome, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol: 22, ISSN: 1422-0067

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy that is associated with an adverse metabolic profile including reduced postprandial thermogenesis. Although abnormalities in adipose tissue function have been widely reported in women with PCOS, less is known about direct effects of androgen on white and, particularly, brown adipocytes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the nonaromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on (1) lipid accumulation and expression of adipogenic markers in immortalized mouse brown adipose cell lines (IMBATs), (2) mitochondrial respiration in IMBATs, (3) mitochondrial DNA content and gene expression, (4) expression of brown adipose tissue (BAT) markers and thermogenic activation. In addition, we profiled the relative levels of 38 adipokines secreted from BAT explants and looked at androgen effects on adipokine gene expression in both IMBATs and immortalized mouse white adipose (IMWATs) cell lines. Androgen treatment inhibited IMBAT differentiation in a dose-dependent manner, reduced markers of adipogenesis, and attenuated the β-adrenoceptor-stimulated increase in uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) expression. In explants of mouse interscapular BAT, androgen reduced expression of UCP1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1 (PCG-1) and Cidea. Significantly, as well as affecting genes involved in thermogenesis in BAT, androgen treatment reduced mitochondrial respiration in IMBATs, as measured by the Seahorse XF method. The results of this study suggest a role for excess androgen in inhibiting brown adipogenesis, attenuating the activation of thermogenesis and reducing mitochondrial respiration in BAT. Together, these data provide a plausible molecular mechanism that may contribute to reduced postprandial thermogenesis and the tendency to obesity in women with PCOS.

Journal article

Surendran P, Gao H, Zhang W, Evangelou E, Poulter N, Sever PJ, Vergnaud A, Chambers JC, Elliott P, Jarvelin M-R, Kooner JS, Howson Jet al., 2020, Discovery of rare variants associated with blood pressure regulation trhough meta-analaysis of 1.3 million individuals, Nature Genetics, Vol: 52, Pages: 1314-1332, ISSN: 1061-4036

Genetic studies of blood pressure (BP) to date have mainly analyzed common variants (minor allele frequency, MAF > 0.05). In a meta-analysis of up to >1.3 million participants, we discovered 106 new BP-associated genomic regions and 87 rare (MAF≤ 0.01) variant BP associations (P < 5 × 10-8), of which 32 were in new BP-associated loci and 55 were independent BP-associated SNVs within known BP-associated regions. Average effects of rare variants (44% coding) were ~8 times larger than common variant effects and indicate potential candidate causal genes at new and known loci (e.g.GATA5, PLCB3). BP-associated variants (including rare and common) were enriched in regions of active chromatin in fetal tissues, potentially linking fetal development with BP regulation in later life. Multivariable Mendelian randomization suggested possible inverse effects of elevated systolic and diastolic BP on large artery stroke. Our study demonstrates the utility of rare variant analyses for identifying candidate genes and the results highlight potential therapeutic targets.

Journal article

This data is extracted from the Web of Science and reproduced under a licence from Thomson Reuters. You may not copy or re-distribute this data in whole or in part without the written consent of the Science business of Thomson Reuters.

Request URL: http://wlsprd.imperial.ac.uk:80/respub/WEB-INF/jsp/search-html.jsp Request URI: /respub/WEB-INF/jsp/search-html.jsp Query String: respub-action=search.html&id=00103770&limit=30&person=true