Genetic variants in central metabolic genes influence some but not all relations of inflammatory markers in a collective with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) suffer, in addition to reproductive disturbances, from symptoms of the metabolic syndrome like insulin resistance, elevated coronary risk and visceral obesity. Genes with confirmed associations to the metabolic syndrome are also candidate genes for a relationship to metabolic parameters of the PCOS syndrome. The study presented indicates that genetic variants of the transcription factors LXRα or PPARγ and the PON-1 or the IGF-2 cluster are associated with altered metabolic phenotypes in PCOS patients. Next to this the absolute cytokine levels and the relation of certain cytokines to IL2, IL12 or INFγ are depending on the genotype. These observations support the hypothesis that various genetic variants in metabolic relevant genes might not only alter the metabolic characteristics within a cohort of PCOS patients but might also influence the cytokine level and the overall pattern of secreted cytokines.