Detection of dendritic cells and related cytokines in follicular fluid of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Problem: The presence of dendritic cells (DCs) and associated cytokines in follicular fluid (FF) from patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remains unknown. Methods of study: FF was collected from PCOS patients and patients with severe male factor infertility (control) at the day of transvaginal oocyte retrieval. Phenotypes of DC were detected by flow cytometry, and TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-23 were assessed by ELISA. Results: A significant decrease in the percentage of DC was found in patients with PCOS (16.22 +/- 5.5%) compared with control (21.27 +/- 5.5%, P<.01). E-2 on the day of hCG administration was correlated positively with the mean fluorescence intensity of HLA-DR (r=.75, P<.01) and reversely correlated with the concentration of TNF-alpha in FF (r=-.69, P<.01). The level of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 increased significantly but IL-23 decreased in FF from patients with PCOS. Conclusion: The decrease of DC and disturbance of associated cytokines in FF from PCOS patients indicates a disorder of immunological microenvironment of the ovarian follicle, which might be involved in the dysfunction of folliculogenesis.