OBJECTIVE

The imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and polymorphism of cytokine genes may play a role in the etiology of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of polymorphisms of TNFalpha, IL-6 and IL-10 genes with the occurrence and the clinical/laboratory characteristics of PCOS in the Turkish population.

STUDY DESIGN

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TNFalpha (-308 G/A), IL-6 (-174 G/C), IL-10 (-1082 G/A) genes in DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes of 97 PCOS patients and 95 healthy control women were investigated.

RESULTS

There is a tendency toward lower frequency of the IL-6 CC genotype and C allele among PCOS women compared with healthy controls although the difference did not reach a significant level. No notable differences were observed in allele or genotype frequencies for TNFalpha and IL-10 genes between groups. The concomitant presence of wild homozygous TNFalpha genotype together with mutant IL-6 C allele has a protective effect against PCOS with an OR=0.45 (95% CI=0.23-0.86). While TNFalpha (-308) and IL-10 (-1082) genotypes did not influence clinical/laboratory parameters in PCOS, IL-6 (-174) CC or pooled CG+CC genotypes have lower glucose, insulin, HOMA, cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-C, and higher GIR and HDL-C values than GG genotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that the IL-6 promoter region polymorphism may be related to occurrence and metabolic abnormalities seen in PCOS in the Turkish population. However, more studies with larger sample size are necessary to support our findings in other populations before any statement can be made about the relationship between PCOS and cytokine polymorphism.