No difference in markers of adipose tissue inflammation between overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome and weight-matched controls

Abstract

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies have indicated that peripheral circulating markers of inflammation are elevated in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but thus far no studies concerning markers of inflammation in adipose tissue have been published. The aim of the study was to investigate whether patients with PCOS display increased expression of inflammatory markers in adipose tissue.METHODSTwenty overweight patients with PCOS, 10 lean patients with PCOS and 20 overweight controls had subcutaneous fat biopsies and blood samples taken. Adipose tissue levels of mRNA of inflammatory markers were determined by use of real-time PCR.RESULTSOverweight patients with PCOS had higher relative adipose tissue chemokine ligand 2 (P < 0.01), and its cognate receptor (P < 0.05), tumour necrosis factor-α (P < 0.001), interleukin (IL)-10 (P < 0.001) and IL-18 (P < 0.001) and the monocyte/macrophage markers CD14 (P < 0.01) and CD163 (P < 0.01) mRNA levels compared with lean women with PCOS. There were no differences between overweight patients with PCOS and overweight control subjects in this respect. Within the PCOS group, markers of adipose tissue inflammation correlated significantly with obesity-related metabolic disturbances, but when data were adjusted for age and BMI, most correlations were lost.CONCLUSIONSOverweight, rather than the PCOS diagnosis per se, appears to be the main explanatory variable for elevated adipose tissue inflammation in patients with PCOS.

Adipose expression of adipocytokines in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…In a recent study, Lindholm et al (38) found no difference in markers of inflammation in adipose tissue between obese women with and without PCOS, which corresponds to our findings. In contrast, Carmina et al (39) described reduced expression of both adiponectin and leptin in subcutaneous adipose tissue in women with PCOS compared with control women.…”

“…Because subclinical inflammation is regarded as a cardiovascular risk factor, interest has focused on the role the two inflammatory mediators IL-6 and TNF-a in the development of cardiovascular disease. The data on IL-6 and TNF-a in PCOS have been conflicting (38,(52)(53)(54), and we found no effect of PCOS on either TNF-a or IL-6.…”

Expression of the CD11c gene in subcutaneous adipose tissue is associated with cytokine level and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…However, we do not find that the expression levels of IL6 mRNA were significantly different between women with PCOS and normal control women. Findings from this study seem to contrast with the reports from the laboratories of Lindholm et al (30). They showed that overweight rather than the PCOS diagnosis per se appears to be the main explanatory variable for elevated adipose tissue inflammation in patients with PCOS.…”

MCP-1 and fetuin A levels in patients with PCOS and/or obesity before and after metformin treatment

“…According to some research, overweight, rather than the PCOS diagnosis per se, appears to be the main explanatory variable for elevated adipose tissue inflammation in patients with PCOS [32]. On the other hand PCOS obese and non-obese patients show higher serum MCP-1 levels than controls [15].…”