Level C· Early human research exploring benefitsProspective StudyEurope PMCOpen access

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

Alenezi SA., Alshammari K., Khan R., Amer S.

Prospective Study, published in Int J Mol Sci (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.

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Level C· Early human research exploring benefitsEvidence level of this study

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

  • Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
  • Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
  • Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
  • Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
  • Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
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This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.

Study type
Prospective Study
Journal
Int J Mol Sci (2026)
Reported sample size
—
Source database
Europe PMC
PMID
41596350
PMCID
PMC12840877
DOI
10.3390/ijms27020699

Abstract (original English)

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 inflamma

What this study does not prove

  • • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

How we grade evidence
Adipose TissueHumansPolycystic Ovary SyndromeCaspase 1Gene Expression RegulationAdultFemaleIntra-Abdominal FatInterleukin-1betaCARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins

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