الفهرس 
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Abstract
Although Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the commonest endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age, its underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. Growing evidence suggests that PCOS is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation, which has been implicated in its pathogenesis and in its long-term metabolic consequences. Despite the large number of published studies, the status of inflammatory markers in PCOS remain uncertain in view of the conflicting data. In this current study, we have conducted two arms of research the first of which a detailed review of published literature was done to establish the connection between levels of various inflammatory markers to PCOS status compared to controls and whether these levels were affected by adiposity, it was concluded that the levels of CRP and adiponectin were dependent on PCOS status when compared to controls and further aggravated by the presence of obesity.
In the second arm of the study, we have conducted laboratory research where by adipose tissue and blood samples were recruited from PCOS patients attending fertility units, operative theater and outpatient clinics, adipose tissue samples were used for RNA extraction followed by cDNA synthesis that was further utilized for PCR reaction searching for levels of expression of target genes responsible for androgen production in adipose tissue (CYP17) and levels of inflammasome components (NLRP3, IL1-ß, Caspase-1), interestingly, levels of CYP17 were significantly higher in PCOS population compared to controls, and levels of NLRP3 were also higher ,linked to LH levels widening the scope of LH levels on adipose tissue from merely hormonal control to accentuating inflammatory cascade and related risks of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome in PCOS population .
Next, we explored levels of inflammasome expression in peripheral blood monocytes in PCOS patients compared to controls, while levels of certain markers were elevated as NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-18, others were non-significant statistically despite of higher trend of expression in PCOS population.
In conclusion, it was noted that there was strong association of inflammasome component levels of expression and PCOS status, a possible novel correlation that could explain more about the mysterious pathology of this heterogenous condition.
Further research exploring all phenotypes of PCOS , adopting bigger sample size is the needed in the future to establish this connection and explore further its implication in treatment options for this condition.