To study the changes of Th1 and Th2 cells in peripheral blood of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) , and to explore the significance of Th1/Th2 imbalance in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

41 patients who were diagnosed with PCOS were selected as PCOS group, and 25 healthy women were set as the control group. Peripheral venous blood (8 ml) were obtained from subjects in the two groups, serum was separated, and chemiluminescence was used to detect sexual hormone levels. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained, cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-4 were detected by ELISA, and Th1 and Th2 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The data were statistically analyzed, with P<0.05 as the difference being statistically significant.

ELISA results showed that compared with the control group, there was no significant change in the level of cytokine IL-4 in the peripheral blood of the PCOS group (P>0.05) , while the level of IFN-gamma increased significantly (the control group: (54.2±18.7) pg/ml, the PCOS group: (136.8±24.6) pg/ml, P<0.05) . The results of flow cytometry showed there was no significant change in the proportion of Th2 cells (P>0.05) , while the proportion of Th1 cells (the control group: (5.7±0.6) %, PCOS group: (14.3±1.1) %, P<0.05) and the ratio of Th1/Th2 increased significantly (the control group: 2.1±0.3, PCOS group: 4.4±0.5, P<0.05) . Correlation analysis showed that Th1/Th2 ratio in PCOS group was positively correlated with LH (r=0.512, P=0.034) , LH/FSH (r=0.584, P=0.028) and T (r=0.631, P=0.016) .

Th1/Th2 imbalance was found in PCOS patients, which may be closely related to the disorder of sexual hormone levels.

Polycystic ovary syndrome; Th1/Th2 imbalance