Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and polycystic ovarian syndrome: a clinical, biochemical, and molecular genetic study

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) appears to be linked with hyperandrogenism (HA), increased insulin resistance (IR), and obesity (Ob), which were common features noted with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Our aim was to study the role of TNF-α in the pathogenesis of IR and Ob in PCOS, as well as a C850T (rs1799724) polymorphism in the promoter region of the TNF-α gene, in a group of 204 PCOS patients and 204 age-matched healthy controls. Significant differences were observed between PCOS patients and controls. All the PCOS had elevated body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) score, and serum TNF-α when compared with controls (p