# Assessment of Serum Sestrin 2 Levels in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study

## TL;DR

This study found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome have higher levels of a stress-related protein called Sestrin 2, suggesting it could be a useful biomarker for diagnosing the condition.

## Contribution

The study reports novel findings on elevated serum Sestrin 2 levels in treatment-naive PCOS patients compared to healthy controls.

## Key findings

- PCOS patients had significantly higher serum Sestrin 2 levels compared to healthy controls.
- A negative correlation was found between follicle-stimulating hormone and Sestrin 2 levels in PCOS patients.
- A cutoff of 1.484 ng/mL of Sestrin 2 showed moderate sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing PCOS patients from controls.

## Abstract

Objective

Sestrin 2 (SESN2) is a stress-responsive protein implicated in metabolic regulation and oxidative stress. This study aims to assess serum SESN2 levels in treatment-naive subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and compare them to healthy controls.

Methods

The single-center cross-sectional case-control study was conducted from February 2020 to February 2021 at a multispecialty center in Bengaluru, India. The study included 37 newly diagnosed, drug-naive women with PCOS and 46 healthy, age-matched and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls. SESN2 levels, along with anthropometric and metabolic parameters, were measured for both groups. Ethical approval was obtained, and all participants provided informed consent.

Results

The study involved 83 participants, divided into two groups: 37 patients with PCOS and 46 healthy controls. Significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of weight, hip circumference, and serum SESN2 levels. The PCOS group had higher weight (P=0.024) and larger hip circumference (P=0.037), while the control group exhibited a higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (P=0.007). Although no statistically significant difference was found in body mass index (BMI), the PCOS group showed elevated serum SESN2 levels (P=0.024). Correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and SESN2 levels in the PCOS group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis determined a SESN2 cutoff of 1.484 ng/mL, which demonstrated moderate sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing PCOS patients from healthy controls.

Conclusion

SESN2 levels were significantly higher in PCOS patients, with moderate correlations observed with metabolic and anthropometric parameters. SESN2 may play a role in the hormonal and metabolic disturbances characteristic of PCOS, highlighting its potential as a biomarker for PCOS diagnosis and management.