International immunopharmacologyMar 25, 2022

Imbalanced gut bacteria trigger immune cell inflammation that may cause polycystic ovary syndrome by disrupting hormone production and egg cell survival

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 1, 2026

Abstract

16S rDNA sequencing revealed reduced gut Akkermansia and increased gram-negative bacteria in DHEA-induced PCOS mice.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis is linked to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) pathogenesis.
Increased serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels were observed in PCOS mice, which may trigger macrophage pyroptosis.
Gasdermin D (GSDMD) is identified as a critical mediator of macrophage pyroptosis, with its knockout improving PCOS symptoms.
Macrophage pyroptosis is associated with disrupted estrogen production and increased granulosa cell apoptosis.
Elevated interferon (IFN)-γ in PCOS mice serum and ovaries may enhance macrophage pyroptosis and its negative impact on estrogen receptor function.
Disulfiram and metformin were found to increase gut Akkermansia and inhibit macrophage pyroptosis, suggesting potential therapeutic options for PCOS.

Simplified

Gut microbiota dysbiosis is critical in the etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the mechanisms of gut microbiota in PCOS pathogenesis have not been fully elucidated. We aimed to explore the role of gut microbiota-derived macrophage pyroptosis in PCOS. This study conducted dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) induced PCOS mice model, 16S rDNA sequencing, western blot, genetic knocking out, transcriptome and translatome profiling, et al. to evaluate the underlying mechanisms. 16S rDNA sequencing showed reduced gut Akkermansia and elevated gram-negative bacteria (Desulfovibrio and Burkholderia) abundances in DHEA induced PCOS mice, which was accompanied by increased serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS could induce macrophage pyroptosis in mice ovaries, also activated in PCOS. Gasdermin D (GSDMD) is the final executor of macrophage pyroptosis. We demonstrated that Gsdmd knockout in mice could dramatically ameliorate PCOS. Mechanistically, transcriptome and translatome profiling revealed that macrophage pyroptosis disrupted estrogen production and promoted apoptosis of granulosa cells. Interferon (IFN)-γ, which was elevated in PCOS mice serum and ovaries, enhanced macrophage pyroptosis and exacerbated its effect on estrogen receptor in granulosa cells. Inspiringly, we identified that disulfiram and metformin could augment gut Akkermansia abundance, reduce serum IFN-γ level, inhibit macrophage pyroptosis in ovaries, therefore ameliorating PCOS. Collectively, this study emphasizes that macrophage pyroptosis, which was induced by gut microbiota dysbiosis and enhanced by IFN-γ, plays a key role in PCOS pathogenesis through estrogen synthesis dysfunction and apoptosis of granulosa cells. Disulfiram and metformin, which enhanced gut Akkermansia abundance and suppressed macrophage pyroptosis, may be considered as potential therapeutic strategies for PCOS.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View Full Text ↗

Imbalanced gut bacteria trigger immune cell inflammation that may cause polycystic ovary syndrome by disrupting hormone production and egg cell survival

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief