Immune Modulation of Interleukin-1α by Noradrenaline and Cortisol in Women with PCOS (Psychoneuroimmunology Aspect)

Background & Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common complex condition in women associated with reproductive, metabolic and psychological features. Evidences from studies on women with PCOS and on an experimental rat PCO model suggest that the sympathetic regulatory drive to the ovary may be unbalanced (hyperactivity). The sympathetic nervous system (SAS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (cortisol) are the major integrative and regulatory components of different immune responses. The aims of this study were 1) to determine serum cytokines 2) The study of pattern four cytokines in PCO patients 3) Cross-talk between two super systems: SAS & Immune systems.

Methods: In this study, 171 women were divided into two groups: PCO (n=85) and control (n=86 non-PCOS). All women were between 20-40years old ages and their body mass index (BMI) was below 28. Serum cytokines: IL-17, IL-1α, IL-1β and TNFα concentrations in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were determined in both groups.

Results: The results showed that IL-17 in serum of patients with PCOS significantly lower than the control group (p<0.001). Interleukin 1 (alpha and beta) increased in the PCO group than the control group: Interleukin 1α (p<0.001) and IL-beta (p=0.017).

Discussion: The results of this study indicate that overactivity of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in women with PCO impairs 1) three cytokines pattern and 2) the increased sympathetic outflow may be related to hormonal and metabolic features of this syndrome.

Conclusion: The activation of SNS during an immune response might be aimed to localize the inflammatory response. The results of this study confirm low-grade chronic inflammation in PCOS.