Objective Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous endocrine disorder associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR). MOTS‐c, a mitochondrial peptide, promotes insulin sensitivity (IS) through activating AKT and AMPK‐dependent pathways. The current study was designed to examine the response of MOTS‐c to lipids (intralipid) followed by insulin in PCOS and healthy subjects. Methods All subjects underwent 5‐hour intralipid/saline infusion with a hyperinsulinemic‐euglycaemic clamp in the final 2 hours. Plasma samples were collected to measure circulating MOTS‐c using a commercial ELISA kit. Subsequently, this was repeated following an eight‐week exercise intervention. Results Intralipid significantly increased plasma MOTS‐c both in controls and PCOS subjects, whilst the insulin infusion blunted the intralipid‐induced response seen for both lipids and MOT‐c. Intralipid elevated plasma MOTS‐c to 232 ± 124% of basal in control (P < 0.01) and to 349 ± 206% of basal in PCOS (P < 0.001) subjects. Administration of insulin suppressed intralipid‐induced MOTS‐c from 232 ± 124% to 165 ± 97% (NS) in control and from 349 ± 206% to 183 ± 177% (P < 0.05) in PCOS subjects, respectively. Following exercise, intralipid elevated plasma MOTS‐c to 305 ± 153% of basal in control (P < 0.01) and to 215 ± 103% of basal in PCOS (P < 0.01) subjects; insulin suppressed intralipid‐induced MOTS‐c only in controls. Conclusions In conclusion, this is the first study to show increased lipid enhanced circulating MOTS‐c whilst insulin attenuated the MOTS‐c response in human. Further, eight weeks of moderate exercise training did not show any changes in circulating MOTS‐c levels in healthy controls and in women with PCOS.

Background: The fibroblast growth factors (FGF) 19 subfamily, also referred to as endocrine FGFs, includes FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23 are metabolic hormones involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Fetuin-A is a hepatokine involved in the regulation of beta-cell function and insulin resistance. Endocrine FGFs and fetuin-A are dysregulated in metabolic disorders including obesity, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Our study was designed to examine the response of endocrine FGFs and fetuin-A to an acute intralipid, insulin infusion and exercise in PCOS and healthy women. Subjects and Measurements: Ten healthy and 11 PCOS subjects underwent 5-h saline infusions with a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (HIEC) performed during the final 2 h. One week later, intralipid infusions were undertaken with a HIEC performed during the final 2 h. After an 8 week of exercise intervention the saline, intralipid, and HIEC were repeated. Plasma levels of endocrine FGFs and fetuin-A were measured. Results: Baseline fetuin-A was higher in PCOS women but FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23 did not differ and were unaffected by exercise. Insulin administration elevated FGF21 in control and PCOS, suppressed FGF19 in controls, and had no effects on FGF23 and fetuin-A. Intralipid infusion suppressed FGF19 and increased FGF21. Insulin with intralipid synergistically increased FGF21 and did not have effects on lipid-mediated suppression of FGF19 in both groups. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence for insulin and lipid regulation of endocrine FGFs in healthy and PCOS women, suggesting that FGF family members play a role in lipid and glucose metabolism.

ObjectiveHypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes (T2D) increases morbidity and mortality but the underlying physiological response is still not fully understood, though physiological changes are still apparent 24 hours after the event. Small noncoding microRNA (miRNA) have multiple downstream biological effects that may respond rapidly to stress. We hypothesized that hypoglycemia would induce rapid miRNA changes; therefore, this pilot exploratory study was undertaken.MethodsA pilot prospective, parallel study in T2D (n=23) and controls (n=23). Insulin-induced hypoglycemia (2mmol/l: 36mg/dl) was induced and blood sampling performed at baseline and hypoglycemia. Initial profiling of miRNA was undertaken on pooled samples identified 96 miRNA that were differentially regulated, followed by validation on a custom designed 112 miRNA panel.ResultsNine miRNAs differed from baseline to hypoglycemia in control subjects; eight were upregulated: miR-1303, miR-let-7e-5p, miR-1267, miR-30a-5p, miR-571, miR-661, miR-770-5p, miR-892b and one was downregulated: miR-652-3p. None of the miRNAs differed from baseline in T2D subjects.ConclusionA rapid miRNA response reflecting protective pathways was seen in control subjects that appeared to be lost in T2D, suggesting that mitigating responses to hypoglycemia with blunting of the counter-regulatory response in T2D occurs even in patients with short duration of disease.Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03102801?term=NCT03102801&amp;draw=2&amp;rank=1, identifier NCT03102801.

BackgroundThe complement system is pivotal in host defense mechanisms, protecting against pathogenic infection by regulating inflammation and cell immunity. Complement-related protein activation occurs through three distinct pathways: classical, alternative, and lectin-dependent pathways, which are regulated by cascades of multiple proteins. Complement activation is recognized in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to be associated with obesity and insulin sensitivity. Exercise reduces insulin resistance and may help reduce obesity, and therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the effect of exercise on the activation of complement-related proteins in PCOS and control women.Subjects and MeasurementsIn this study, 10 controls and 11 PCOS subjects who were age- and weight-matched underwent an 8-week supervised exercise program at 60% maximal oxygen consumption. Weight was unchanged though insulin sensitivity was increased in PCOS subjects and controls. Fasting baseline and post-exercise samples were collected and 14 complement-related proteins belonging to classical, alternative, and lectin-dependent pathways were measured.ResultsBaseline levels of complement C4b and complement C3b/iC3b were higher in PCOS (P &lt; 0.05) compared with controls. Exercise reduced complement C1q (P &lt; 0.05), C3 (P &lt; 0.001), C4 (P &lt; 0.01), factor B (P &lt; 0.01), factor H (P &lt; 0.01), and properdin (P &lt; 0.05) in controls, but not in PCOS women.ConclusionExercise induced complement changes in controls that were not seen in PCOS subjects, suggesting that these pathways remain dysregulated even in the presence of improved insulin sensitivity and not improved by moderate aerobic exercise.Clinical Trial RegistrationISRCTN registry, ISRCTN42448814.