Evaluation of immunoglobulins subclasses and free-light chains in non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and correlations with hormonal and metabolic parameters: preliminary data

U. Basile, C. Bruno, C. Napodano, E. Vergani, F. Gulli, G. Piunno, K. Pocino, A. Stefanile, A. Mancini

Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Peri-operatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. antonio.mancini@unicatt.it

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• Gynecology

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia that contribute to create a state of chronic low-grade inflammation. We performed an observational case-control study to investigate inflammatory and immunological parameters, such as IgG subclasses and free light chains (FLCs) and hemolytic complement activity (CH50) in non-obese PCOS, evaluating their relations with metabolic and hormonal parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 36 subjects were studied: 16 PCOS patients (mean±SEM 27.13±1.82 age; BMI 24.1±0.9 kg/m2); 20 controls (aged 26.05±0.73; BMI 20.8 ± 0.4 kg/m2). The blood sample was collected for metabolic and hormonal parameters, IgG subclasses, k and λ FLCs, CH50. Hormones were measured by immunochemiluminometric assays; metabolic parameters by enzymatic assays; subclasses of IgG, FLCs, and CH50 were evaluated by the turbidimetric method.

RESULTS: PCOS patients showed vs. controls lower IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 (mean±SEM 3.76±0.29 g/l, 2.63±0.20, 0.62±0.06, 0.34±0.08 vs. 6.49±0.35, 4.28±0.25, 0.84±0.07, 0.33±0.04, respectively) and higher levels of FLCs (k 12.22±0.71 vs. 6.03±0.30, λ 10.10±0.79 vs. 8.04±0.48 g/l) and CH50 (48.64±2.65 vs. 36.51±1.38 U/ml); we found correlation between IgG2 and free-testosterone (r=0.72, p=0.005) and CH50 and vitamin D (r=0.54, p=0.04); an inverse correlation was found between IgG1 and, respectively, ACTH (r=-0.57, p=0.02) and cortisol (r=0.78, p=0.001) in PCOS.

CONCLUSIONS: In the complex scenario of low-grade inflammation in non-obese PCOS, we showed lower levels of main subclasses of IgG and higher CH50 levels, suggesting the involvement of other mechanisms other than the “classical” pathway of complement activation; FLCs could be attractive to monitor inflammation degree, disease activity and influence on hormonal status.

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