title: Elevated circulating levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have chronic low level inflammation which can increase the risk of atherogenesis. We evaluated the status of circulating macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a proinflammatory cytokine involved in atherogenesis, in women with PCOS and weight-matched controls. Two-way analysis of variance models adjusted for age were fit to evaluate the effect of PCOS status (PCOS vs. controls) and weight-class (obese vs. lean) on MIF and other parameters. MIF levels were significantly (p<0.001) higher in women with PCOS (lean: 37.7+/-10.6 ng/ml; obese: 54.6+/-15.2 ng/ml) compared to controls (lean: 4.8+/-0.6 ng/ml; obese: 17.5+/-8.0 ng/ml) regardless of weight-class. CRP levels were significantly (p<0.001) higher in obese subjects (PCOS: 6.2+/-1.9 mg/l; controls: 6.7+/-1.4 mg/l) compared to lean subjects (PCOS: 0.9+/-0.4 mg/l; controls: 0.2+/-01 mg/l) after controlling for PCOS status. MIF levels directly correlated with % truncal fat (r=0.41, p<0.05), and plasma levels of CRP (r=0.42, p=0.05), LH (r=0.45, p=0.04), testosterone (r=0.53, p<0.008), androstendione (r=0.58, p<0.005). IS(OGTT) inversely correlated with plasma levels of MIF (r=-0.51, p<0.02) and CRP (r=-0.73, p<0.001). Circulating MIF is elevated in PCOS independent of obesity, but both PCOS and obesity contribute to a proatherogenic state. In PCOS, abdominal adiposity and hyperandrogenism may exacerbate the risk of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. gonzalez.frank@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Neal S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Rote
authors.forename: Judi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minium
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kirwan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000097:blood*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D008055:Lipids; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C515598:MIF protein, human