---
title: Do women with PMDD have different cellular responses to ovarian hormones?
description: Yes. Women with PMDD showed differences in how their cells respond to hormones, specifically involving genes that control gene expression. This lab study is v
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-esc-e-z-complex-an-effector-of-response-to-ovarian-steroids-manifests-an-2017/
---

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- Do women with PMDD have different cellular responses to ovarian hormones?

Cohort study, 2017

# Do women with PMDD have different cellular responses to ovarian hormones?

Yes. Women with PMDD showed differences in how their cells respond to hormones, specifically involving genes that control gene expression. This lab study is very small so findings may not apply to real women.

 Early or limited evidence

Women with PMDD and healthy controls from a hormone suppression and addback clinical trial

## What they did

Cohort study comparing cell cultures from women with PMDD and healthy controls grown in the lab. Researchers studied the active genes in these cells using RNA sequencing with and without hormone treatment.

## What they found

Cells from women with PMDD had more messenger RNA (genetic instructions) for ESC/E(Z) complex genes compared to controls, particularly for three genes: MTF2, PHF19, and SIRT1 (P<0.05). However, the actual protein made from these genes was lower in PMDD cells. When treated with progesterone, controls' genes increased while PMDD cells' genes decreased in response to estradiol.

## What it means for you

Women with PMDD may have a fundamental cellular difference in how their cells process hormones, which could explain why they are especially sensitive to hormone changes during the menstrual cycle. However, this is based on cell cultures grown outside the body, not actual hormone changes in living women.

More than half

ESC/E(Z) genes over-expressed in PMDD cells

P<0.05

Significance level for MTF2, PHF19, SIRT1

3

Genes with significant protein changes

## About the study

Original title The ESC/E(Z) complex, an effector of response to ovarian steroids, manifests an intrinsic difference in cells from women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Dubey N, Hoffman JF, Schuebel K et al. Journal Molecular psychiatry Year 2017 Study design Cohort study What was tested Hormone treatment (progesterone and estradiol) applied to cell cultures Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1038/mp.2016.229](https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2016.229)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)

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Can digital tools help diagnose PMDD?

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