title: Elevated serum levels of interleukin-18 are associated with insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: Overproduction of proinflammatory factors is associated with obesity and diabetes. Interleukin (IL)-18 as a member of IL-1 cytokine family is increased in obese, in diabetic, and even in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. In the present study we evaluated the association of serum IL-18 levels with insulin resistance in PCOS women. Forty-two PCOS women and 38 control subjects were enrolled in this study and matched with respect to age and body mass index (BMI). Serum IL-18 levels and hormones were measured for all subjects. Furthermore, euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp test was performed in selected 30 PCOS women and 11 control subjects. Serum IL-18 levels were elevated in PCOS women compared with the control (p = 0.033). IL-18 levels were positively correlated with homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA) beta index, which assesses beta cell function (p = 0.035), but were inversely correlated with clamp indices, which best represent insulin resistance status: M, Clamp ISI*100, and MCRg values (p = 0.006, 0.010, and 0.009 respectively). No correlation was found between IL-18 and age, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), lipid profile, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), sex hormone- binding globulin (SHBG), or fasting insulin levels. In conclusion, in the present study, serum IL-18 levels were significantly increased in PCOS women and firmly associated with insulin resistance displayed by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp test. It indicates that IL-18 may be a contributing factor linking inflammation and insulin resistance in PCOS women.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Clinical Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University Medical School, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, 200025, Shanghai, P R China.
authors.forename: Yi-fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi-sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Wei-qiong
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Chun-fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Peng-fei
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Xiao-ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ning
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D020382:Interleukin-18; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone