A Cross-sectional Study on the Follicular Fluid Concentration of Some Interleukins and Clinical Factors in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients

Cytokines regulate ovarian activity through controlling internal ovarian processes as paracrine or autocrine regulators. In the current study, the follicular fluid (FF) concentration of some cytokines including interleukin (IL-3), IL-5, and IL-6 were investigated and compared between 39 patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 34 healthy normal women with male factor infertility as the control group.

To this end, FF samples were collected by following gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol. Then, the FF concentration of the studied cytokines was evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Finally, the characteristics of the participants were collected and compared between PCOS and control groups.

Based on the results, the FF concentration of IL-3 and IL-5 revealed a remarkable reduction in the PCOS group in comparison to the control group (P=0.0004 and P=0.04, respectively). In addition, there were noticeable differences in the body mass index (P=0.009), endometrial thickness (P<0.0001), menstrual cycle (P<0.0001), history of ovarian surgery (P<0.0001), hyperandrogenism (P<0.0001), and hirsutism (P<0.0001) between the groups.

In general, the finding of the diminished concentration of IL-3 and IL-5 in PCOS patients may represent an altered immune response to the inflammatory condition in this syndrome.