Placental STAT3 signaling is activated in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

© 2015 The Author. study question: Does polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women without pregnancy complications affect placental signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling? summary answer: Placental STAT3 signaling is activated but mTOR signaling is unaffected in PCOS. what is known already: Women with PCOS have increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes (e.g. restricted or accelerated fetal growth), indicating placental dysfunction. Placental STAT3 and mTOR pathways regulate placental function and indirectly affect fetal growth. study design, size, duration: In a case-control study, placental tissue and maternal blood were collected at delivery from 40 control pregnant women and 38 PCOS women with uncomplicated pregnancy. participants/materials, setting, methods:Women with PCOS were recruited at two medical centers and pregnant controls were recruited at one of these centers. PlacentalmRNAexpression of genes encodi