Abstract

BACKGROUND
To determine plasma adipokines such as adiponectin, IL-6 and TNF-alpha concentrations in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to assess possible correlations of adipocytokines to the hormonal and metabolic parameters, including measures of insulin resistance (IR). METHODS: Forty-four selected women were classified as follows: 13 obese (body mass index [BMI] > or = 25 kg/m(2)) with PCOS; 15 non-obese (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)) with PCOS; 8 obese without PCOS, and 8 non-obese without PCOS. Blood samples were collected from all women with or without PCOS after an overnight fast. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone, 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), insulin, glucose, adiponectin, TNF-alpha and IL-6 were measured. Measures of IR included HOMA-IR and QUICKI. RESULTS: In non-obese group, fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR in PCOS were significantly higher compared to control. However, Adiponectin, TNF-alpha and IL-6 concentrations were found not to be different in obese women with PCOS as compared with obese women without PCOS and in non-obese women with PCOS as compared with non-obese women without PCOS. Adiponectin concentrations correlated inversely with BMI, waist circumference (WC), total fat mass, serum insulin, and HOMA-IR in PCOS group. However, multiple regression analysis showed that BMI was the only independent determinant of adiponectin concentration. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that insulin sensitivity per se probably does not play any role in the control of adipokines levels such as adiponectin, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in PCOS women

• Keywords: Adiponectin;IL-6;PCOS;TNF-alpha