Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which was described for the first time 70 years ago, is a frequent endocrinopathy. It is assessed that PCOS occurs in 6-10% women at reproductive age. However, the pathogenesis of this syndrome is still not clear. Recently it was observed that it is possible that proinflammatory cytokines participate in the development of PCO syndrome. Therefore the aim of present study is to review the current literature on a role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome. TNF-alpa and IL-6 are recognized mediators of insulin resistance, which is the best examined link in the pathogenesis of PCO syndrome, these cytokines can also directly increase the activity of hypothalamic - pituitary - ovarian axis and hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal axis.
Conclusions: 1. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 participate in the pathogenesis of PCO syndrome through very complex mechanisms, but further study are necessary to explain them more precisely. 2. It seems that described cytokines may be the links that connect obesity and the development of PCO syndrome.