Serological Evaluation of Anti- FSH Antibody and Anti- LH antibody In Iraqi women with polycystic ovarian syndrome

1. Introduction

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent gynecological disorder that affects women of reproductive age (15-45 years) and is characterized by a combination of hormonal and metabolic manifestations.^1,2 The exact cause of this syndrome remains unclear; however, PCOS is primarily associated with hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction. Its incidence varies by region and is influenced by lifestyle factors, including diet and physical activity habits. The pathophysiology of PCOS, resulting from hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance, can lead to hirsutism, acne, and menstrual cycle irregularities, anovulation, endometrial cancer, ovarian enlargement, infertility, type 2 diabetes, other cardiovascular diseases.^3,4 Environmental and genetic factors contribute to PCOS development in ovaries. Metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and central obesity, are more common in obese women with PCOS. Furthermore, scientific evidence indicates that women with PCOS have higher levels of inflammation-related biomarkers in both their serum and ovarian tissues than women without the condition.^5,6 PCOS causes an imbalance in progesterone and estrogen (sex hormones) levels, which leads to disturbances in the menstrual cycle. Therefore, oral contraceptives are often prescribed for women with PCOS.⁷ This condition can be diagnosed by ovarian ultrasonography. The ovary can be affected by immune-mediated processes, and these responses can be organ-specific, affecting only the ovary, or systemic autoimmune diseases. One autoimmune conformation of the ovary, anti-FSH antibody interferes with the function of FSH, and FSH’s specific beta-epitope is predominant in endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome.⁸ The pituitary gland abides by slow and fast GnRH pulses. During the early follicular stage, increasing FSH concentrations stimulate estradiol (E2) production. Elevated E2 selectively suppresses FSH secretion and sustains a high-frequency pattern of GnRH pulses into the late follicular stage.⁹ A hallmark of PCOS is an increase in GnRH levels, leading to elevated androgen levels. The ovary stimulates this oversecretion and produces high LH levels from the adenohypophysis. This elevation in LH secretion is observed in approximately 60% of women with PCOS, and oversecretion of LH prevents oocyte maturation. The main function of LH hormone is to stimulate ovulation and zygote implantation in the uterus, as well as to regulate the menstrual cycle.^10,11 LH receptors on ovarian theca cells regulate steroid production, whereas FSH receptors on granulosa cells regulate follicle development and steroid hormone handling. Evidence from limited studies indicates a possible association between these antibodies and premature ovarian failure in women.¹² In infertile women anti-FSH antibodies were found at high concentrations. Because of their similarities in structure, function, and site of secretion, antibodies against both LH and FSH are the same. Pretreatment with oral contraceptives is used to balance the LH/FSH ratio before ovulation, to regulate ovarian induction.¹³ There was little study on the autoimmunity, like anti-FSH and anti-LH antibodies, of PCOS, so the current study was designed to test the effectiveness of these antibodies on the occurrence of PCOS.

2. Materials and methods

3. Results

The age of patients in the PCOS group aged <30 years old was 43 (66.15%), while it was 22 (33.33%) in patients aged >30 years old. Compared to the control group, less than 30 years old were 40 (71.43%) were less than 30 years old were 16 (28.57%), as shown in Table 1. The percentage of married female patients with PCOS was 49 (75.38%), whereas the control group comprised 36 (64.29%). Comparing these results to unmarried patients 16 (24.62%) and the unmarried controls 20 (35.71%), as shown in Table 1. The patients who had children were 38 (58.46%), while those who did not have children were 27 (41.54%). As in the control group (having children), there were 23 (64.29%), while in the control group (having no children), there were 13 (35.71%), as shown in Table 1.

There was a non-significant increase in the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) in PCOS (8.12 ± 0.74 mIU/ml), (7.61 ± 0.73 mIU/ml) respectively, as compared to control (7.35 ± 0.62 mIU/ml), (5.62 ± 0.56 mIU/ml) respectively (p value > 0.05). However, LH levels showed a non-significant increase in patients when compared to controls (p > 0.05). The present study found a highly significant decrease in antibodies against LH hormone in patient (45.29 ± 3.04 ng/ml) were found to be less than control (69.16 ± 10.90 ng/ml). Serum anti-LH antibodies were detected in PCOS patients, showing a negative correlation with LH levels. The anti-FSH antibody levels showed a non-significant increase in both patient and control groups. Antibodies against FSH in patient (36.22 ± 6.73 ng/ml) was more than the control (34.99 ± 9.78 ng/ml). The LH/FSH ratio revealed a non-significant increase in the patients (1.161 ± 0.37), and control groups (0.7819 ± 0.22), as shown in Table 2. The LH/FSH ratio was more than 2 was in patients 5(7.6%), while in control zero. The ratio was less than 2, in patient 60 (92%) higher than in control where it was 56 (100%), as shown in Table 3.

The BMI of the patients and controls was as follows: in obese and overweight women the anti-LH antibody decreased in the patient (43.796) ng/ml, and control groups (69.864) ng/ml, while the anti- FSH antibody levels increased in the patients (42.561) ng/ml compared to the control group (39.653) ng/ml, and the LH/FSH ratio showed an increase in the patient (1.381), and control groups (0.825). In normal weight women, the anti-LH antibody was lower in the patients (47.586) ng/ml, than in controls (68.221) ng/ml, and the anti-FSH antibody also as anti-LH antibody, in patients (26.483) ng/ml increase, compared to control (28.791) ng/ml, while LH/FSH ratio represented a higher level in the patient (0.821) than in the control (0.723) as shown in Table 4. There was a non-significant correlation between the BMI and (Anti-FSH, Anti-LH antibodies, and LH/FSH ratio), as shown in Table 5.

4. Discussion

Polycystic ovarian syndrome can be defined as a hormonal, metabolic, and endocrine disorder, related to irregular androgen production from the ovaries. An increase in adrenal androgen levels, combined with obesity, promotes the peripheral conversion to estrogen.^16,17 In addition to type 2 diabetes, women with PCOS often exhibit insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and obesity.¹⁸ It was normal to increase the level of LH hormone, and the ratio of LH/FSH; it may be between 1-2 in healthy women but increases to reach as high as 2 or 3, which will lead to anovulation. The gonadotrophin- axis was distributed in PCOS patients, so LH levels increased and FSH levels were within the normal range, leading to the expression of the normal LH/FSH ratio. This result is not concordant with that reported by Malini and Roy.¹⁹ The results of this study showed an increase in the LH/FSH ratio in female with PCOS, which increased above 1, except in some patients who were, taking an oral contraceptive that balanced the LH/FSH level before the ovulation, which may have affected the results. Despite the potential influence of oral contraceptives on the LH/FSH ratio, a small proportion (7.5%) of the patients still exhibited values above 2, which is a hallmark feature of PCOS. This finding further supports the notion that, in addition to endocrine and metabolic disturbances, immune-mediated mechanisms, such as the presence of anti-LH Ab and anti-FSH Ab, may contribute to ovarian dysfunction and reproductive impairment in affected women. In addition, findings indicated an elevation in LH concentrations, along with either normal or reduced FSH concentrations, in individuals with PCOS, as revealed by previous research.²⁰ The medications that some patients with PCOS were taking were vitamin D3, oral contraceptives, and metformin when samples were collected, but they continued to meet the diagnostic criteria for PCOS. The role of metformin and vitamin D in PCOS was to decrease the FSH level in women during post-menopause and decrease LH levels in women with PCOS.²¹ Some patients had been taking medications, such as metformin and vitamin D, which were prescribed by their physician at the time of sample collection. This treatment is commonly used in PCOS to improve hormonal balance by lowering LH levels and increasing FSH levels, thereby supporting ovulation and enhancing menstrual regularity. Additionally, metformin and vitamin D have a positive effect on BMI, and their combination is particularly effective in managing ovulatory dysfunction in patients with PCOS.²² Pretreatment with oral contraceptives is used to balance the LH/FSH ratio before ovulation to regulate ovarian induction.²³ Insulin resistance in women with PCOS is reduced by metformin, thereby counteracting adverse metabolic and hormonal disturbances. This improvement is accompanied by enhanced GnRH pulsatility, decreased LH secretion, and reduced androgen production, and an increase in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Normalization of LH levels and the LH/FSH ratio in this manner is considered one of the most prominent therapeutic effects of metformin on fertility in women with PCOS.²⁴ FSH and LH are inhibited by anti-FSH antibody or anti-LH antibody trapping the hormones in the immune complex, and anti-FSH antibody prevents FSH hormone from binding to its receptor.²⁵ An earlier study showed that there was a higher level of anti-FSH antibody in patients with PCOS than in controls. The exact mechanism remains unclear, and a previous study suggested that the epitope of the beta-chain of FSH attacked by anti-FSH antibodies. These autoantibodies made the tissue of ovaries and the hormone receptors as target, which activated the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor, and disrupted the action of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. The rate of anti-FSH antibody in this study, increased in female with PCOS, which is consistent with a previous study showing an elevation in anti-FSH antibody levels in women with PCOS. However, the anti-LH antibody level did not show that increase. As well as the current study showed a non-significant relationship between (BMI) and (anti-FSH antibody, anti-LH antibody, and the LH/FSH ratio). There was a non-significant decrease in anti-LH antibody levels, in obese patients and a non-significant increase in obese control women. The results were the same for the non-obese (patients and controls). In obese and non-obese (patients and controls), the anti-FSH antibody, LH/FSH ratio, revealed a non-significant increase, as shown in earlier research.²⁶ In earlier study, alterations in reproductive hormones were identified in PCOS patients, with FSH levels being lower and LH levels elevated. Approximately, 64.5% of the women exhibited abnormal hormonal profiles involving FSH, LH, along with an increased LH/FSH ratio. The ratio of LH/FSH showed an inverse association with body mass index. Also, these hormonal changes, particularly the imbalance in LH, FSH, and their ratio, were related to clinical manifestations of PCOS, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperandrogenism.²⁷ A previous study reported elevated LH levels in PCOS patients accompanied by detectable anti-LH antibodies. These findings suggest that serum anti-LH Abs could serve as a potential marker for PCOS. In line with this, the current study observed an inverse relationship between LH and anti-LH Abs, as the results showed elevated LH levels accompanied by decreased levels of anti-LH antibodies supporting the proposed relationship.²⁸ As such, this study suggested a group of patients with PCOS and controls (healthy women), according to their ages, and if they have children (fertile), or not (infertile), to detect the fertility beside that (secondary infertility), and (primary infertility) in women with PCOS was clearly increased. However, the levels of anti-LH and anti-FSH antibody in primary infertile patients with PCOS were higher than those in secondary infertile patients with PCOS and controls. To review past research, infertility was defined as primary infertility (when couples never had children for more than 12 months). Secondary infertility (when couples never had children after the last child they had, for more than 12 months), and the female was diagnosed with PCOS without taking any treatment. BMI is a numerical value that estimates a person’s body fat based on their weight and height; BMI in obese and overweight women is above 25, whereas that in low fat women is below 25. In an earlier study the women with a BMI less than 25 (normal weight) had fewer menstrual cycle irregularities than obese and overweight women.²⁹

Some participants were on medications (e.g., metformin and contraceptives) during sample collection; nevertheless, they continued to meet the diagnostic criteria for PCOS as confirmed by a specialist. Based on the present findings, several recommendations for future research can be proposed: assess additional immunological markers, and apply a more detailed BMI classification.

5. Conclusion

This study suggests that immune-mediated mechanisms, including increased in levels of anti-FSH antibodies, may contribute to hormonal imbalance and reproductive dysfunction in women with PCOS. An elevated LH level and LH/FSH ratio above 2 were observed in the PCOS group, with cases of primary and secondary infertility clear. Endocrine and metabolic factors remain important, considering that immune factors could improve patient assessment and fertility management. Future studies with larger sample sizes and advanced analyses are recommended to better understand these interactions and to guide targeted interventions.

Ethical statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the College of Science, University of Baghdad (Ref.: CSEC/1124/0100, November 2024). All procedures involving human participants were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written consent was obtained from each patient and control before the study started.