Functional impact of IL-36γ rs28947206/rs28947207 and IL-17 a rs2275913 polymorphisms in polycystic ovary syndrome: Novel insights from the Iraqi population.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 4-21 % of reproductive-aged women, with elevated prevalence in Iraq. It involves chronic inflammation and dysregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines. This study investigates serum IL-17 A levels and its rs2275913 polymorphism, alongside the novel relevance of IL-36γ and its rs28947206/rs28947207 variants in PCOS pathogenesis. A total of 178 women underwent clinical, hormonal, and cytokine profiling. Genetic analysis was performed on a subset (n = 63) using PCR-Sanger sequencing. PCOS patients showed significantly elevated IL-17 A (48.7 ± 12.3 vs 32.1 ± 8.9 pg/ml) and IL-36γ (142.6 ± 28.4 vs 58.9 ± 14.7 pg/ml) levels (p < 0.001), with IL-36γ demonstrating superior diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.970 vs 0.851). Hormonal dysregulation included reduced FSH and elevated testosterone, AMH, LH, LH/FSH ratio, prolactin, and BMI (P < 0.05). Clinical features such as hirsutism, acne, alopecia, menstrual irregularities, and poor pregnancy outcomes were more prevalent (P < 0.05). IL-36γ rs28947206/rs28947207 variants were monomorphic in all subjects, marking the first report of these SNPs in PCOS. IL-17 A rs2275913 was significantly associated with PCOS, with the A allele (OR = 4.71) and AA genotype (OR = 10.71) linked to altered AMH, prolactin, and LH/FSH levels. IL-36γ is a promising diagnostic biomarker, while IL-17 A rs2275913 represents a genetic risk factor for PCOS in the Iraqi population.