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.
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
Topics
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