Association of IL-1 beta and IL-6 Gene Expression and some Biochemical Indicators with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Iraqi Women

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze hormone levels (FSH, LH, progesterone, prolactin, free testosterone, TSH), HbA1c, HDL, LDL, and gene expression of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 and examine their relationship with PCOS. Methods: The study included 100 women, 60 with polycystic ovarian syndrome (diagnosed) and 40 age matched, healthy women (controls). It was investigated hormones (FSH, LH, progesterone, prolactin, free testosterone, TSH), HbA1c, HDL, and LDL in blood. IL-1β and IL-6 genes’ relative expression levels were measured by quantitative Real Time reverse transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: The level of FSH, LH, prolactin, free testosterone, TSH, HbA1c and LDL were significantly higher in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome than in normally women (mean:9.41 ± 3.39 vs. 4.77 ± 1.31 IU/L, 25.51 ± 6.98 vs. 4.25 ± 2.62 IU/L, 15.36 ± 11.15 vs. 10.30 ± 7.75 ng/mL, 2.41 ± 0.97 vs. 0.91 ± 0.50 ng/dL, 3.00 ± 1.62 vs. 2.38 ± 0.99 mIU/L, 5.31 ± 0.94 vs. 4.7 ± 0.68% and 2.95 ± 0.86 vs. 2.62 ± 0.69 mmol/L, respectively); in contrast, progesterone and HDL concentrations were non significantly in the patients with PCOS than in the normally women (mean: 0.96 ±  0.69 vs. 0.83 ± 0.35 ng/mL, 1.12 ± 0.42 vs. 1.50 ± 0.21 mmol/L, respectively). The findings demonstrated that both the interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 genes in the polycystic ovarian syndrome and control groups had higher fold frequencies, with fold heights greater than 1. Conclusion: The findings show different hormonal and metabolic change in the patient population, along with increased inflammatory activity, which suggests that the illness process involves a combination of inflammatory and endocrine pathways. IL-1β and free testosterone demonstrated promising diagnostic performance and may represent potential biomarkers pending further validation in larger studies.