---
title: What cellular changes might explain why some women develop PMDD?
description: Researchers found that women with PMDD have abnormal differences in genes related to a protein complex called ESC/E(Z), which helps cells respond to hormones.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/researchers-uncover-cellular-pathway-that-may-contribute-to-pmdd-2017/
---

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- What cellular changes might explain why some women develop PMDD?

Case-control study, 2017

# What cellular changes might explain why some women develop PMDD?

Researchers found that women with PMDD have abnormal differences in genes related to a protein complex called ESC/E(Z), which helps cells respond to hormones. This could explain why women develop PMDD even when their hormone levels are normal.

 Moderate study design

34 women with PMDD and 33 women without PMDD

## What they did

Case-control study comparing blood immune cells (lymphoblasts) from 34 women with PMDD and 33 women without PMDD. The cells were grown in a lab and tested for how they responded to estrogen and progesterone.

## What they found

Even before being exposed to hormones, cells from women with PMDD had different expression of over 100 genes compared to controls, including 12 of the 13 genes that make up the ESC/E(Z) complex. The cells also responded differently when exposed to estrogen and progesterone.

## What it means for you

PMDD may be caused by how the body responds to hormones rather than by abnormal hormone levels. The main limitation is that this study was done in cells in a lab, not in living women.

34

women with PMDD

33

control women

100+

genes with different expression

## About the study

Original title Researchers Uncover Cellular Pathway That May Contribute to PMDD Authors Nick Zagorski Journal Psychiatric News Year 2017 Study design Case-control study Participants 40 What was tested Exposure to estrogen and progesterone in laboratory cells Read the paper [doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2017.2a6](https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2017.2a6)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Estradiol, progesterone and hormone therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormone-therapy/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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## Related studies

Review, 1999

Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder a distinct clinical disorder?

Cohort study, 2022

What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated?

Randomised trial, 2021

Does ulipristal acetate help premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

Review, 2000

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Non-randomised trial, 2024

Does luteal phase sertraline treatment affect stress hormones and inflammation in PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2023

Are there new drug treatments for PMDD besides SSRIs?

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