Proteomics to reveal relationship between menstrual cycle and subjective conditions

The menstrual cycle is a vital component of female health, influencing both physical and mental well-being. However, the underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between proteins and subjective condition related to the menstrual cycle using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Serum samples were collected weekly from 42 female students over a period of 5 weeks, totaling 210 2-DE images. Simultaneously, two female hormones -- estradiol and progesterone -- were measured. Participants also rated their subjective condition (SC) score on a scale of 1–5, with scores closer to 5 indicating better condition. These data were categorized into three groups: scores of 1–2 as SC Low, a score of 3 as SC Mid, and scores of 4–5 as SC High. The Steel-Dwass test comparing these groups revealed that kallistatin and transferrin were significantly higher in the SC High group. Notably, the evaluation of discernment ability using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that kallistatin and transferrin exhibit greater discernment than conventional hormonal markers for identifying negative or positive conditions. Investigating well-being related to the menstrual cycle through proteomics proves to be a valuable approach, and targeting these proteins may lead to effective health management strategies for females.