NLRP3 Inflammasome and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Novel Profile in Adipose Tissue

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation. The NLRP3 inflammasome has been implicated in various inflammatory conditions, but its role in PCOS remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether the NLRP3 inflammasome and its associated components, IL-1β, CASP-1, and PYCARD, are involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Gene and protein expression levels of NLRP3, IL-1β, CASP-1, and PYCARD were assessed in adipose tissue samples (visceral and subcutaneous) from women with and without PCOS using qPCR and Western blotting. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, CASP-1 gene expression was significantly higher in non-PCOS participants across all adipose depots examined. Similarly, NLRP3 protein levels were significantly upregulated in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and in combined adipose samples from the non-PCOS group. No significant group differences were observed in the gene expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, or PYCARD. These findings suggest a more complex role for the NLRP3 inflammasome in PCOS than previously assumed. The elevated CASP-1 and NLRP3 levels in non-PCOS participants may reflect compensatory regulation, subclinical inflammation in controls, or technical variability. Further research is needed to explore alternative inflammasome pathways and the influence of metabolic factors, such as insulin, on inflammasome regulation in PCOS.