Evaluation of pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) and its association with inflammatory cytokines in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Abstract

Chronic low-grade inflammation has been suggested as a key contributor of the pathogenesis and development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). To investigate the association between oxidative stress status and inflammatory cytokines in follicular fluid of 21 PCOS women compared to 21 women with normal ovarian function who underwent intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection. Concentration of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α was measured using sandwich ELISA. Oxidative stress was examined by measuring total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and thiol groups. PCOS women had an elevated concentration of MDA and TOS compared to controls. Levels of TAC and thiol groups were lower in PCOS compared to controls. PCOS patients had a higher concentration of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α compared to controls. Concentration of IL-10 was lower in PCOS compared to controls. Significant correlations were found between MDA and TOS concentration with TNF-α and between IL-6 and MDA, IL-8 and TAC, IL-10 and TOS levels and also between IL-10 and TAC levels. TAC and thiol groups were negatively correlated with TNF-α. Increased oxidative stress in PCOS is associated with inflammation which is closely linked. Inflammation can induce production of inflammatory cytokines in this syndrome and directly stimulates excess ovarian androgen production.

Chinese abstract

慢性低度炎症被认为是多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）发病机制和发展的关键因素。为探讨21名PCOS患者的卵泡液中氧化应激水平和炎性细胞因子的关系, 并与21名卵巢功能正常行卵胞浆内单精子显微注射的女性比较。IL-6, IL-8, IL-10和TNF-α的浓度用夹心ELISA测定。氧化应激通过测定总氧化状态（TOS）、丙二醛(MDA)、总抗氧化能力（TAC）以及硫醇基来检测。与对照组相比, PCOS患者的MDA和TOS浓度升高, TAC和硫醇基水平较低。PCOS患者的IL-6, IL-8和TNF-a浓度较对照组升高, IL-10较低。MDA和TOS浓度与TNF-α、IL-6和MDA、IL-8和TAC、IL-10和TOS水平, 以及IL-10和TAC水平之间呈显著相关。TAC和硫醇基与TNF-α呈负相关。PCOS氧化应激增加与炎症密切相关。PCOS中炎症可诱导炎性细胞因子的产生并直接刺激卵巢产生过多的雄激素

Keywords:

• Oxidative stress
• inflammation
• inflammatory cytokines
• follicular fluid
• PCOS

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Research and Technology Deputy of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (IR.UMSHA.REC.1395.191). We express our appreciation to the Research Center of Endometrium and Endometriosis, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, for their clinical evaluation of patients.

The study was approved by Hamadan University of Medical Science Ethics Committee (IR.UMSHA.REC.1395.191). All subjects provided written informed consent. All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the local research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Research and Technology Deputy of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. We express our appreciation to the Research Center of Endometrium and Endometriosis, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, for their clinical evaluation of patients.