Multi-racial cytokine profiling reveals immune dysregulation, not chronic inflammation, in polycystic ovary syndrome

This dataset contains plasma concentrations of 96 immune-related proteins measured using a custom Luminex xMAP assay in 40 women (20 with PCOS, 20 controls) matched for age, BMI, and race (Black and White). The comprehensive panel includes:

Growth Factors (12): EGF, FGF-2, FLT3L, G-CSF, GM-CSF, M-CSF, PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB, SCF, TGF-α, TPO, and VEGF-A

Cytokines (35): APRIL, BAFF, IFN-α2, IFN-β, IFN-γ, IFN-ω, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1Rα, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12p40, IL12-p70, IL-13, IL-15, IL-16, IL-17A, IL-17E, IL-17F, IL-18, IL-20, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-24, IL-27, IL-28A, IL-29, IL-31, IL-33, IL-34, IL-35, LIF, TNF-α, TNF-β, and TSLP

Chemokines (41): Including 6CKINE, BCA1, CCL28, CTACK, CXCL16, ENA78, EOTAXIN variants, FRACTALKINE, GCP2, GRO-α, IP-10, MCP variants, MIP variants, RANTES, and others

Other Immune-Related Proteins (8): CD137, CD40L, Granzyme A, Granzyme B, Perforin, sFAS, sFASL, and TRAIL

Methods
Study Participants and Cohort Design Samples were obtained from a prospective study of over 2500 women and adolescents (aged ≥14 years) presenting for evaluation of androgen excess at reproductive endocrinology clinics. PCOS was defined using the 1990 National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria. For this analysis, we performed a cross-sectional case-control study with a subsampled cohort of 40 women: 20 with PCOS and 20 controls, matched for race (10 White, 10 Black in each group), age, and BMI. Fasting blood samples were obtained during the follicular phase (cycle days 3-8), and plasma was separated and cryopreserved.

Luminex Assay Plasma samples (10 μL) were analyzed using blinded Xmap Intelliflex Luminex assays. CRP was measured at 1:40,000 dilution, while 96 cytokines were measured without dilution using comprehensive custom immune protein panels: Human Cytokine/Chemokine/Growth Factor panel A (Cat# HCYTA-60K-PXBK48) and panel B (Cat# HCYTB-60K-PXBK48), and Human Cardiovascular Disease panel for CRP (Cat# HCVD3MAG-67K) (Millipore). Standard curves were generated, and concentrations interpolated using Belysa Immunoassay Curve Fitting software.