Kari Luotola1, Terhi T Piltonen2,3, Johanna Puurunen2,3, Juha S Tapanainen1,2,3. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. 3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PEDEGO Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Oulu, Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Serum IL-1Ra levels were measured at baseline in 73 women with PCOS and 45 control subjects (18-47 years), and in 27 women with PCOS who underwent oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs and IVGTTs). RESULTS: IL-1Ra concentrations predicted OGTT 2-h glucose levels independently of BMI and insulin resistance (P ≤ 0·001) in women with PCOS. Serum IL-1Ra concentration was elevated in women with PCOS compared with controls [mean (SD): 309·5 (208·8) vs 199·1 (81·4) ng/l, P < 0·001], but the difference disappeared after adjusting for BMI. An increment of five BMI units raised IL-1Ra levels by 108·5 ng/l [95% confidence interval (CI): 85·5-131·5, r(2) = 0·603] in women with PCOS and only by 77·0 ng/l (95% CI: 50·5-103·5, r(2) = 0·512) in controls when adjusted for BMI and age. Levels of IL-1Ra in obese women with PCOS reflected decreasing OGTT-derived insulinogenic index (P = 0·032) and disposition index (P = 0·046) independently of BMI. Increased levels of IL-1Ra correlated with indices showing increasing insulin resistance and AUC insulin (P ≤ 0·002). CONCLUSIONS: Increased IL-1Ra levels in women with PCOS were largely explained by increasing adiposity. However, serum IL-1Ra concentrations predicted 2-h glucose levels independently of BMI suggesting that increased IL-1Ra may be associated with disturbed glucose metabolism.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Serum IL-1Ra levels were measured at baseline in 73 women with PCOS and 45 control subjects (18-47 years), and in 27 women with PCOS who underwent oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs and IVGTTs). RESULTS:IL-1Ra concentrations predicted OGTT 2-h glucose levels independently of BMI and insulin resistance (P ≤ 0·001) in women with PCOS. Serum IL-1Ra concentration was elevated in women with PCOS compared with controls [mean (SD): 309·5 (208·8) vs 199·1 (81·4) ng/l, P < 0·001], but the difference disappeared after adjusting for BMI. An increment of five BMI units raised IL-1Ra levels by 108·5 ng/l [95% confidence interval (CI): 85·5-131·5, r(2) = 0·603] in women with PCOS and only by 77·0 ng/l (95% CI: 50·5-103·5, r(2) = 0·512) in controls when adjusted for BMI and age. Levels of IL-1Ra in obesewomen with PCOS reflected decreasing OGTT-derived insulinogenic index (P = 0·032) and disposition index (P = 0·046) independently of BMI. Increased levels of IL-1Ra correlated with indices showing increasing insulin resistance and AUC insulin (P ≤ 0·002). CONCLUSIONS: Increased IL-1Ra levels in women with PCOS were largely explained by increasing adiposity. However, serum IL-1Ra concentrations predicted 2-h glucose levels independently of BMI suggesting that increased IL-1Ra may be associated with disturbed glucose metabolism.