Research Spotlight

Polycystic ovary syndrome and immune deregulation: what do hormones want to say?

Exploration of Immunology  27 June 2022 | https://doi.org/10.37349/ei.2022.00058

Betcy Susan Johnson, Malini Laloraya

ABSTRACT

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most frequently observed endocrinopathies among women of reproductive age that redound to subfertility. The specific etiology of this heterogenic syndrome remains ambiguous. Metabolic complications, hormonal imbalance, deregulation in the immune system and their interrelationship make PCOS more complex. Hyperandrogenism and chronic low-grade inflammation modulate each other and enhance the self-perpetuation of PCOS. Even though there are many literature studies on PCOS and immune deregulation, this review focuses on the endocrine-immune nexus and how the altered endocrine system is embroiled in the immunopathology of PCOS.