Association of senescence-Associated secretory phenotype proteins with ovarian reserve among middle-Aged/older women

Objective This study aimed to examine the association of circulating senescence-Associated secretory phenotype proteins, secreted by senescent cells, with indicators of women's ovarian reserve. Methods This secondary analysis of cross-sectional baseline survey data was undertaken by the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study Cardiovascular Disease Association Study. A total of 223 women (aged 40-82 y), without any history of oophorectomy, hysterectomy, or other medical conditions that could lower the ovarian reserve, were enrolled in this analysis. Chronological age (years), menopausal status, and serum anti-müllerian hormone (ng/mL) level were used to assess the associations among biological aging, accelerated menopausal aging, and ovarian reserve. Results Of the 223 women participants (53.4 11.0 y), 147 (46.4 3.9 y) and 76 (67.0 6.9 y) were premenopausal and postmenopausal, respectively. Serum levels of senescence-Associated secretory phenotype proteins were generally higher in postmenopausal, than in premenopausal, women. In the analyses adjusted for chronological age and body mass index, 17 senescence-Associated secretory phenotype proteins were associated with menopausal status. However, in premenopausal women, no association trends with the level of anti-müllerian hormone were detected for a total of 28 senescence-Associated secretory phenotype proteins. Conclusions In a cohort of middle-Aged/older women, the level of circulating senescence-Associated secretory phenotype proteins indicated chronological age and menopausal status. Yet, serum levels of senescence-Associated secretory phenotype protein potentially have limited predictive value for ascertaining ovarian reserve in premenopausal women.