title: Circulating high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and soluble CD40 ligand are inter-related in a cohort of women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Insulin resistance (IR), the fundamental metabolic alteration in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), has recently been reported to represent, in part, a chronic low-grade inflammatory state. This study aimed to assess the inter-relationship between the plasma levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) - both inflammatory factors - and the pathogenesis of IR among women with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study compared 44 women with PCOS with a group of control women without PCOS (n = 39). Participants were matched for age, blood pressure and degree of obesity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the two inflammatory factors. Fasting glucose and insulin were assayed and used to calculate the IR indices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant elevations in the plasma levels of both inflammatory factors were observed in women with PCOS compared with the control women: 3.17 (2.23-3.89) vs 2.05 (0.93-2.82) mg/l for hs-CRP and 2.46 (1.08-4.16) vs 0.82 (0.43-1.26) ng/ml for sCD40L, respectively. Interestingly, among women with PCOS, the two inflammatory factors were significantly positively correlated with each other (r = 0.465, p = 0.002), as well as with the IR indices. This association remained significant even after adjustment for body mass index as a measure of obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Independent of obesity, women with PCOS suffer low-grade inflammation that is correlated with IR. The observed inter-relationships suggest that CRP in collaboration with the CD40-CD40L system may have a role in the pathogenesis of PCOS.
authors: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abassia, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: H O
authors: HO
authors: El-Mesallamy
authors: R S
authors: RS
authors: Abd El-Razek
authors: T A
authors: TA
authors: El-Refaie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002097:C-Reactive Protein