Astronaut Vision Issues in a Ground Analog Population: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Overview

The investigators have documented a genetic predisposition for some astronauts to develop ophthalmologic issues (e.g., choroidal folds, cotton wool spots, optic disc edema). Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have several characteristics similar to those described in astronauts, including: higher homocysteine concentrations, increased incidence of intracranial hypertension, increased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, increased incidence of white matter hyperintensities on MRI, increased androgen concentrations (or androgen responses to space flight), and indices of altered carbohydrate metabolism. Women with PCOS have not been evaluated in detail regarding the occurrence of other anomalies observed in astronauts including choroidal folds, optic disc edema and cotton wool spots as well as changes in cycloplegic refraction, and optic nerve sheath diameter. While researchers have evaluated one-carbon metabolism pathway polymorphisms re: PCOS, and initial studies show an association with certain one-carbon polymorphisms, none have looked at the complete set of SNPs proposed here. This study will evaluate women with PCOS and/or idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) to assess one-carbon biochemistry and genetics and their possible correlation with ophthalmologic findings. The investigators aim to clarify the relationship of one carbon metabolism and ophthalmic findings in astronauts and patients with PCOS and/or IIH.

Evidence from initial analysis of 5 SNPs in the one-carbon metabolism pathway suggests that one-carbon pathway genes may predict risk of ocular changes and possible vision impairment during and after long-duration space flight. It is not precisely known whether it is these particular genes, or a haplotype of genes that are linked to these genes, that influence risk. Furthermore, ancestry is a strong factor that predicts SNP occurrence in a population, and the association between one-carbon metabolism and the risk of vision-related issues may simply stem from the fact that one particular ancestry has a higher prevalence of these SNPs. The investigators propose that there are other SNPs in the one-carbon metabolism pathway that alter risk of ocular changes and potential vision impairment during long-duration spaceflight. To that end, extended studies of one-carbon genetics in astronauts have recently been initiated. The investigators hypothesize that the differences between genetic, biochemical, and ophthalmologic findings in PCOS and/or IIH patients and controls will mirror many of the differences found between astronauts who had ophthalmic issues during and after flight. SPECIFIC AIMS The key aims of this study are to: a) determine extensive one carbon pathway and related biochemistry, targeted metabolomics, and genetics (523 SNPs of the 85 major genes), and b) conduct ophthalmologic exams on patients in one of four treatment groups: 1. women diagnosed with PCOS without IIH 2. women diagnosed with PCOS and IIH 3. women diagnosed with IIH without PCOS 4. women without PCOS or IIH Participants will be matched by age and body mass index (BMI). Statistical analyses will be used to evaluate the independent and shared contributions of age, body mass (BMI), and genetics on biochemical, and ophthalmologic outcomes, with False Discovery Rate adjustments to account for multiple comparisons. A secondary aim is to combine the patient and control data from this study with ISS crewmember data in order to help inform us on whether or not these two cohorts (astronauts with ophthalmic issues, PCOS patients) share similar associations among one-carbon metabolism genetics and biochemistry and ophthalmologic data identified in the investigators' earlier analyses.