Inflammatory Responses of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Vitro Differ from Healthy Women

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a low-grade inflammatory state with increased serum levels of TNFα. The present study has compared the inflammatory responses to breast cancer cell lines in women with PCOS with healthy women. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from 50 women with PCOS and 50 healthy controls were cultured in the trans-well co-culture system. These cells were stimulated with two distinct breast cancer cell lines. The proliferation of PBMCs, CD3+CD8+T cell percentages, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) concentration were evaluated after 48 and 72 hours of incubation. TNFα concentration and the proliferation rate of PBMCs after 48 hours of incubation were significantly increased in the PCOS group. However, after 72 hours, TNFα secretion was significantly decreased in the PCOS group. The ability of PBMCs to produce TNFα decreased gradually in women with PCOS. When the effects of low-grade inflammation and endocrine conditions on the cells decrease, the inability of PBMCs to create an inflammatory response will be altered.