Molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance and altered carbohydrate metabolism in PCOS: a scoping review
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy affecting women of reproductive age, characterized by oligo- or anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovarian morphology. Beyond its reproductive manifestations, PCOS is increasingly recognized as a complex endocrine-metabolic disorder frequently associated with impaired carbohydrate metabolism and insulin resistance, often independent of body mass. Despite extensive research, the molecular mechanisms underlying insulin resistance across metabolic and reproductive tissues in PCOS remain incompletely characterized. This scoping review aimed to systematically map molecular disturbances in insulin signaling and carbohydrate metabolism in PCOS, explore associations between tissue-specific mechanisms, and identify key gaps in the current evidence. We included peer-reviewed original studies published in English between January 2018 and May 2025, retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, that investigated molecular or cellular pathways related to insulin resistance or glucose metabolism in PCOS. The available evidence predominantly addressed granulosa cells and ovarian tissue, with additional data from endometrium, liver, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, pancreatic beta-cells, and systemic regulatory pathways. Recurrent mechanisms underlying insulin resistance in PCOS included post-receptor defects in IRS/PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling, impaired GLUT4 expression and trafficking, mitochondrial and glycolytic…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Increased expression of circulating miRNA-93 in women with polycystic ovary syndrome may represent a novel, non-invasive biomarker for diagnosis
- Identification of key genes associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and ovarian cancer using an integrated bioinformatics analysis
- Identification of key pathways and genes in polycystic ovary syndrome via integrated bioinformatics analysis and prediction of small therapeutic molecules
- Regulation of Androgen Receptor Expression Alters AMPK Phosphorylation in the Endometrium: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Effect of oral administration of low-dose follicle stimulating hormone on hyperandrogenized mice as a model of polycystic ovary syndrome
- Systems pharmacology to investigate the interaction of berberine and other drugs in treating polycystic ovary syndrome
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.