FOXO3 is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for premature ovarian insufficiency (Review)

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a common clinical disease of the reproductive system in which patients lose normal gonadal function prior to the age of 40. Common pathogenic factors include iatrogenic injury, genetics, inflammation, autoimmune, environmental and psychological factors. Patients with POI experience decreased estrogen secretion levels, ovulation disorder and infertility. POI appears frequently in clinical practice and the burden of the disease is heavy; however, the detailed pathological mechanism requires further experimental evaluation. Furthermore, there is a lack of effective treatment options. Certain causes of the pathogenesis of POI can be explained by epigenetic changes. Front fork transcription factor 3 (FOXO3) is a member of the forkhead box family of transcription factors. FOXO3 was initially considered to affect insulin/insulin growth factor signal transduction. However, the target gene range of FOXO3 includes numerous genes that affect metabolism and protein stability and are associated with aging. There is an association between decreased FOXO3 expression levels and POI. In the present review article, the role of FOXO3 in POI was evaluated, which emphasized the importance of this protein in the investigation of this disease. Moreover, the present review evaluated the evidence for the potential targets and biomarkers of FOXO3 that may be used in the treatment and diagnosis of POI.