Is the polycystic ovary syndrome associated with chronic inflammation per se?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF-soluble receptors, and IL-6 in obese women without additional diseases and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).


METHODS
The study group consisted of 39 obese women with PCOS and 34 age-matched obese women without additional disease were included as controls. Blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured by the enzymatic procedure. Plasma insulin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione, total and free testosterone, cortisol, progesterone, 17OH-progesterone, estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured by a commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), soluble TNF receptors (sTNFRs), and IL-6 were determined by an ELISA.


RESULTS
We did not observe any differences in serum concentrations of TNF-alpha between obese women with and without PCOS. Serum concentrations of sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 were significantly higher in PCOS patients compared with controls; however, serum concentrations of IL-6 were significantly lower in PCOS patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that PCOS is not associated with chronic inflammation.
Olszanecka-Glinianowicz
Magdalena
M
Department of Pathophysiology, Silesian University School of Medicine, Medyków Street 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland. magols@esculap.pl
Banaś
Michał
M
Zahorska-Markiewicz
Barbara
B
Janowska
Joanna
J
Kocełak
Piotr
P
Madej
Paweł
P
Klimek
Katarzyna
K
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000097:blood*; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha