The Role of GnRH Receptor Autoantibodies in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Objective

Is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) associated with activating autoantibodies (AAb) to the second extracellular loop (ECL2) of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR)?

Design and Methods

We retrospectively screened sera from 40 patients with PCOS and 14 normal controls (NCs) with regular menses using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of GnRHR-ECL2-AAb. We obtained similar data from 40 non-PCOS ovulatory but infertile patients as a control group (OIC) of interest. We analyzed GnRHR-ECL2-AAb activity in purified immunoglobulin (Ig)G using a cell-based GnRHR bioassay.

Results

The mean ELISA value in the PCOS group was markedly higher than the NC (P = .000036) and the OIC (P = .0028) groups. IgG from a sample of 5 PCOS subjects, in contrast to a sample of 5 OIC subjects, demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in GnRHR-stimulating activity qualitatively similar to the acute action of the natural ligand GnRH and the synthetic agonist leuprolide. The GnRHR antagonist cetrorelix significantly suppressed (P < .01) the elevated GnRHR activity induced by IgG from 7 PCOS patients while the IgG activity level from 7 OIC subjects was unchanged. Five other OIC subjects had relatively high ELISA values at or above the 95% confidence limits. On further study, 3 had normal or low activity while 2 had elevated IgG-induced GnRHR activity. One suppressed with cetrorelix while the other did not. The copresence of PCOS IgG increased the responsiveness to GnRH and shifted the dosage response curve to the left (P < .01).

Conclusions

GnRHR-ECL2-AAb are significantly elevated in patients with PCOS compared with NCs. Their presence raises important etiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications.