Endocrine Abstracts

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with features of the insulin resistance syndrome and altered glucose homeostasis. Factors that play an important role in these processes are still emerging. Pro-inflammatory cytokines may be involved in development of insulin resistance in PCOS. The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) and insulin resistance indices in PCOS.

Methods: Fasting insulin, glucose, C-peptide, lipid profile, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), 17-hydroxyprogesterone, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, HGF, NGF, TNF alpha, FGF-21 serum concentrations were analyzed in 19 women with PCOS and 15 age- and weight- matched healthy controls. Homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Statistics: Mann Whitney test and partial correlations adjusted for BMI.

Results: Fasting insulin and C-peptide were significantly higher in women with PCOS than in control group (P<0.05 for both), HOMA-IR tended to be higher in PCOS (P<0.06). IL-6, MCP-1, HGF, NGF, TNF alpha, FGF-21 levels did not differ between groups. In women with PCOS, after BMI adjustment: (1) MCP-1 and HGF serum concentrations significantly positively correlated with fasting insulin (P<0.01 for both) and HOMA-IR (P<0.05 and P=0.001, resp.), (2) IL-6 and IL-8 serum concentrations significantly negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol (P<0.01 and P<0.05, resp.), (3) IL-6 positively correlated with triglyceride concentrations (P<0.01), (4) FGF-21 correlated significantly negatively with fasting glucose (P<0.05).

Conclusions: In women with PCOS, serum levels of MCP-1, HGF and IL-6 are associated with markers of insulin resistance and FGF-21 was connected with fasting blood glucose. Supported with the grants NR 8759-3 and MSM 0021620814.