Clinic of Endocrinology, University Hospital "Alexandrovska", Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria,
Clinic of Internal Diseases, Naval Hospital - Varna, Military Medical Academy, Bulgaria.
Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Mar 8;66(1):3-11. doi: 10.20945/2359-3997000000442.
Our aim was to analyze levels of proinflammatory biomarker interleukin-18 (IL-18) in healthy controls and patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) focusing on its association with obesity, clinical, hormonal, and metabolic characteristics.
Fifty-eight patients with PCOS were enrolled in the study fulfilling the Rotterdam criteria and were matched for age, body mass index (BMI), and ethnicity with 30 healthy controls. Detailed anthropometric measurements, clinical investigations, hormonal and biochemical tests were obtained between the 3 and 5 day of a menstrual cycle. A subanalysis of the PCOS group was performed separating patients into several groups according to a waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), insulin resistance (IR), and free androgen index (FAI). Serum IL-18 levels were measured using the ELISA method.
Levels of IL-18 were similar between PCOS patients and controls. IL-18 was higher in overweight/obese women compared to normal-weight women when analyzing all participants together and separately PCOS or controls group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.01, respectively). Additionally, IL-18 levels were higher in high-WHtR and IR subgroups compared to low-WHtR (p < 0.001) and non-IR PCOS women (p < 0.001). PCOS women with high FAI had greater serum IL-18 levels than normal-FAI patients (p = 0.002). Levels of IL-18 correlated positively with most of the anthropometric and metabolic parameters. In multiple linear regression, age, waist circumference, and fasting insulin were independently related factors with IL-18.
Elevated levels of IL-18 were related to several indices of general and visceral adiposity and insulin resistance in PCOS.
本研究旨在分析白细胞介素-18（IL-18）这一促炎生物标志物在健康对照者和多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）患者中的水平，重点关注其与肥胖、临床、激素和代谢特征的相关性。
本研究共纳入 58 名符合鹿特丹标准的 PCOS 患者，并按年龄、体重指数（BMI）和种族与 30 名健康对照者进行匹配。在月经周期的第 3-5 天，获取详细的人体测量学测量、临床检查、激素和生化检查结果。对 PCOS 组进行亚分析，根据腰高比（WHtR）、胰岛素抵抗（IR）和游离雄激素指数（FAI）将患者分为几组。采用 ELISA 法测定血清 IL-18 水平。
PCOS 患者和对照组的 IL-18 水平相似。在分析所有参与者以及 PCOS 或对照组患者时，与正常体重女性相比，超重/肥胖女性的 IL-18 水平更高（p<0.001，p<0.001，p=0.01）。此外，与低 WHtR 和非 IR PCOS 女性相比，高 WHtR 和 IR 亚组的 IL-18 水平更高（p<0.001）。高 FAI 的 PCOS 女性的血清 IL-18 水平高于正常 FAI 患者（p=0.002）。IL-18 水平与大多数人体测量和代谢参数呈正相关。在多元线性回归中，年龄、腰围和空腹胰岛素是与 IL-18 相关的独立因素。
在 PCOS 患者中，IL-18 水平升高与一般和内脏肥胖以及胰岛素抵抗的多个指标有关。
