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Interleukin-22/Interleukin-22 binding protein axis and oral contraceptive use in polycystic ovary syndrome

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Abstract

Purpose

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with alterations in gut microbiota. The cytokine interleukin-22 (IL-22) is produced by immune cells and closely linked to gut immunity, which is tightly controlled by its binding protein (IL-22BP). In this study, we aimed to assess whether IL-22/IL-22BP axis is altered in PCOS at baseline and in response to short-term oral contraceptive (OC) therapy.

Methods

We have evaluated circulating concentrations of IL-22 and IL-22BP in serum samples of 63 PCOS patients and 39 age- and BMI-matched healthy controls. Blood samples were taken in the early follicular phase of a cycle and stored at −80 °C. Serum IL-22 and IL-22BP levels were measured by ELISA at baseline in both women with PCOS and controls, and after 3 months of OC use in PCOS group. IL-22/IL-22BP ratio was calculated in order to have a better reflection of IL-22 biological activity.

Results

At baseline, serum IL-22, IL-22BP concentrations and IL22/IL-22BP ratio were similar between women with PCOS and healthy controls. Three months of OC use along with general lifestyle advice resulted in a significant increase in IL-22/IL-22BP ratio in the PCOS group (62.4 [IQR:14.7–172.7] at baseline vs 73.8 [IQR:15.1–264.3] after OC use respectively p = 0.011).

Conclusions

Results of this study show that women with PCOS have similar circulating concentrations of IL-22 and IL-22BP with healthy women and that short term oral contraception is associated with an increase in IL-22/IL-22BP ratio suggesting higher biological activity of the IL-22 system with OC use in PCOS.

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Funding

This work was supported by Hacettepe University Scientific Research Coordination Unit (Project Number: THD-2022-19956).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Seren Aksun, Ece Ersal & Bulent Okan Yildiz

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Oytun Portakal

  3. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Bulent Okan Yildiz

Authors
  1. Seren Aksun
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  2. Ece Ersal
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  3. Oytun Portakal
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  4. Bulent Okan Yildiz
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by S.A., E.E., O.P., and B.O.Y. The first draft of the manuscript was written by S.A. and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bulent Okan Yildiz.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

The study protocol was approved by the ethical committee of Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

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Informed consent was obtained from each participant included the study.

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Aksun, S., Ersal, E., Portakal, O. et al. Interleukin-22/Interleukin-22 binding protein axis and oral contraceptive use in polycystic ovary syndrome. Endocrine 81, 54–57 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-023-03360-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-023-03360-4

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