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Hyperandrogenism exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

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Abstract

We determined the effect of chronic androgen suppression on inflammation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared to weight-matched controls. We performed a pilot project using samples from previous prospective, controlled studies. Nine women with PCOS (5 obese, 4 lean) and 9 ovulatory controls (5 obese, 4 lean) participated in the study. Androgens, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), free fatty acids (FFA) and body weight were measured before and after 3 and 6 months of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist administration. GnRH agonist treatment decreased estradiol, testosterone and androstenedione to similar levels in all subjects. CRP and IL-6 increased in obese women with PCOS, was unaltered in lean women with PCOS and obese controls, and decreased in lean controls after 6 months of treatment. FFA decreased and body weight increased in obese women with PCOS, but did not change significantly in lean women with PCOS and in either control group after 6 months of treatment. The testosterone reduction was related to increases in weight and IL-6. The fall in FFA was related to the rise in CRP. The increases in weight and IL-6 were related to the rise in CRP. We propose that hyperandrogenism in PCOS may exert an anti-inflammatory effect when obesity is present, but may not promote inflammation in the disorder; and that circulating androgens have a pleiotropic effect on inflammation depending on the combination of PCOS and weight status in a given individual.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, AOC Room 6046, 550 N. University Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Frank González

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Chang Ling Sia

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA

    Frank Z. Stanczyk

  4. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Hilary E. Blair & Michelle E. Krupa

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  1. Frank González
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Correspondence to Frank González.

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González, F., Sia, C.L., Stanczyk, F.Z. et al. Hyperandrogenism exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Endocrine 42, 726–735 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-012-9728-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-012-9728-6

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