Study On The Relationship Of Transforming Growth Factor-beta1,Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha And Interleukin-6 With The Pathogenesis Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objective: To observe the changes of serum transforming growth factor-betal, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and explore the relationship between the changes and the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome.Methods: In both groups, the levels of serum transforming growth factor-betal, tumour necrosis factor-alpha , interleukin-6 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, serum androstenedione by radioimmunoassay. In PCOS patients alone, the levels of serum fasting insulin were detected by radioimmunoassay, serum fasting glucose by glucose oxidase method. We compared the levels of serum transforming growth factor-betal , tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 in PCOS patients with those in control group and analysed the relationship between the cytokines and certain indices related; meanwhile, we compared them in PCOS patients according to insulin resistance; we also compared the levels of the cytokines in PCOS patients without insulin resistance with those in control group.Results: 1.Serum levels of transforming growth factor-betal in PCOS group were higher than those in control group, but had no correlation with certain indices in both groups. 2.In PCOS group, serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha were significantly higher than those in control group, positively related to both testosterone and androstenedione, negatively related to insulin sensitivity index significantly, positively related to both body mass index and serum interleukin-6 levels significantly; in control group, they were positively related to body mass index only. 3.Serum levels of interleukin-6 in PCOS group were significantly higher than those in control group, positively related to body mass index, negatively related to insulin sensitivity index significantly, positively related to fasting insulin levels, area under the curve of insulin significantly. 4.Serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha , interleukin-6 were significantly higher in PCOS group with insulin resistance than those without insulin resistance. 5. Serum levels of transforming growth factor-betal , tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 were not significantly higher in PCOS group without insulin resistance than those in control group.Conclusions: Transforming growth factor-betal , tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarysyndrome. Transforming growth factor-beta1 may induce polycystic ovary syndrome by affecting the metabolism of insulin and glucose. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha relates closely to both insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism, while interleukin-6 relates predominantly to insulin resistance, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 may have coordinate function.