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A macrophage activation marker chitotriosidase in women with PCOS: does low-grade chronic inflammation in PCOS relate to PCOS itself or obesity?

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is described as a low-grade chronic inflammatory state where the macrophage infiltration increased in visceral fat play the major role. The aim of this study was to assess chitotriosidase (ChT) activity (an activated macrophage marker) in women with PCOS and controls and to evaluate its correlation with anthropometric and biochemical parameters.

Study design

Seventy-nine women with PCOS and 60 healthy controls were included in the study. PCOS and controls were divided into two subgroups according to body mass indexes (BMIs) as normoweight (<25 kg/m2) and overweight (≥25 kg/m2). ChT activity, biochemical (free testosterone, luteinizing hormone, insulin resistance index, etc.) and clinical parameters [BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, modified Ferriman–Gallwey scores (mFG)] were analyzed according to groups.

Results

Serum ChT activity was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in women with PCOS than controls (normoweight, 87.1 ± 90.1 vs. 18.4 ± 9.0 nmol/ml/h; overweight, 92.0 ± 96.7 vs. 17.9 ± 12.1 nmol/ml/h PCOS and controls, respectively). No statistically significant difference was noted between ChT activity of normoweight and overweight PCOS subgroups. A positive correlation was found between ChT activity and PCOS status (r 0.598, p < 0.001), mFG scores (r 0.525, p < 0.001), free testosterone (r 0.402, p 0.001) and total testosterone (r 0.168, p 0.048) for the combined groups (PCOS + controls). In multivariant linear regression analysis participants’ PCOS status (presence or absence) and LH levels were the main predictors of ChT activity in the whole study population (p 0.002 and p 0.041, respectively).

Conclusion

ChT activity elevates in PCOS independent of obesity. Our findings support the concept of PCOS is a state of low-grade chronic inflammation where the macrophages could play the major role. Hyperandrogenism might also be related to this inflammatory state and can be a subject of further trials.

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We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Gulhane Military Medical Faculty, 06018, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey

    Ibrahim Alanbay, Cihangir Mutlu Ercan, Hakan Coksuer & Mustafa Ozturk

  2. Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Akdeniz University Medical Faculty, 07059, Antalya, Turkey

    Mehmet Sakinci

  3. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Gulhane Military Medical Faculty, 06018, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey

    Serkan Tapan

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  1. Ibrahim Alanbay
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Correspondence to Mehmet Sakinci.

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Alanbay, I., Ercan, C.M., Sakinci, M. et al. A macrophage activation marker chitotriosidase in women with PCOS: does low-grade chronic inflammation in PCOS relate to PCOS itself or obesity?. Arch Gynecol Obstet 286, 1065–1071 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2425-0

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