Elevated ovarian pentraxin 3 in polycystic ovary syndrome

Purpose Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) plays a crucial role in cumulus expansion and fertilization. The ovarian PTX3 level in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remains uncertain. In the present study, we investigated the follicular PTX3 levels and found the influence of reproductive hormones on ovarian PTX3 concentration. Methods This study was based on 204 healthy-weight women (102 PCOS and 102 normal ovulating subjects) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Follicular fluid (FF) was collected during oocyte retrieval. The PTX3 levels and other hormone levels in FF samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The PTX3 level in the follicle was significantly higher in the healthy-weight PCOS women than controls. Positive correlations were found between ovarian PTX3 level and the existence of PCOS, cycle length, basal LH to FSH ratio and TT in serum, antral follicle count, and ovarian insulin and androgen level, and inverse correlations with the basal serum PRL and ovarian SHBG. In multivariant linear regression analysis, the presence of PCOS diagnosis, participants' basal LH to FSH ratio, and ovarian androstenedione level were the main predictors of ovarian PTX3 level among the enrolled subjects. Conclusion Elevated ovarian PTX3 level supports the low-grade chronic inflammatory state in the follicles of PCOS. The existence of PCOS, disturbed pituitary gland, and ovarian hyperandrogenism might also be related to this state of low-grade chronic inflammation and could be a subject of further study.

Automated summary

The ovarian PTX3 level was found to be significantly higher in healthy-weight women with PCOS compared to controls. Positive correlations were observed between ovarian PTX3 level and factors such as PCOS diagnosis, cycle length, basal hormone levels, antral follicle count, and ovarian hormone levels. Elevated ovarian PTX3 level may indicate a low-grade chronic inflammatory state in the follicles of PCOS, which could be related to the presence of PCOS, pituitary dysfunction, and ovarian hyperandrogenism.