The role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary formation in hyperandrogenism syndrome

Abstract

The objective of the review is to discuss the relationship between hyperandrogen states (HS) and metabolic disorders with the functioning of the immune system, as well as their role in the formation of anovulatory ovarian dysfunction.

The obtained data prove the presence of pathogenetic relationship between excess production of androgens and immunological imbalance in the female body. Anovulatory ovarian dysfunction, which forms on this basis and exacerbates in the absence of the necessary correction to the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), results to various reproductive disorders. Hypersecretion of androgens leads to insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, oligomenorrhea, and androgen-dependent dermopathy. Furthermore, hyperandrogenism and some of these symptoms interact in a vicious cycle with positive feedback and contribute to mutual exacerbation. The pathophysiology of PCOS and HS still remains incompletely explained due to the wide range of clinical manifestations resulting from a complex network of interactions between androgens and insulin, adipocytes, cytokines, signaling pathways and immune cells. Despite the prevalence of PCOS, many aspects of the disease remain controversial. Obviously, further research is needed into the subtleties of the interaction between immune factors and androgens.