Objective: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key pro-inflammatory and immune-modulatory cytokine of relevance for cardiovascular (CD) diseases. Cardiovascular risk factors that have been reported include oxidative stress markers [nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), disulphite (SH)]. We aimed to evaluate the relation between the IL-6 G/C gene polymorphism and oxidative stress markers in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.
Design and patients: We studied 85 PCOS patients and 115 healthy controls. PCOS was defined by the Rotterdam PCOS consensus criteria.
Results: The genotype IL-6 distribution did differ between the control group (CC 9.6%, GC 63.4%, GG 27.0%) and the PCOS patients (CC 4.7%, GC 29.4%, GG 65.9%) (p<0.001). The frequency of the polymorphic G allele was also not similar for the group with PCOS as for the control group with 80.6% and 58.7%, respectively (p<0.001). No statistically significant difference was determined for MDA and NO levels in PCOS patients and control group (p>0.05). Only SH levels were found to be high in favor of patient group (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was determined between IL-6 G/C gene polymorphism and oxidative stress markers in PCOS patients and in the control group.
Conclusion: Gene polymorphism of IL-6 -174 G>C is a risk factor for PCOS in Turkish patients. IL-6 gene polymorphisms are not related to NO, MDA, and SH levels in PCOS. Our negative results in risks factors of CV disorders can probably be explained by the fact that metabolic parameters and endothelial systems of patients may not yet be affected in this short period of time.