Abstract: In recent years, the incidence of premature ovarian failure (POF) has been increasing year by year. It is well known that POF affects the life quality and fertility of those women of childbearing age. However, the causes of POF are complex, and the main factors are classified as iatrogenic factors, environmental factors, genetic factors, infectious factors, and immune factors, etc. A large number of POF cases were reported in patients with autoimmune diseases. The level of serum transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) was decreased in patients with POF orrheumatoid arthritis, while the levels of inflammatory factors interleukin 21 (IL-21), IL-6 and IL-17 were increased. It was reported that those cytokines and inflammatory factors were involved in the follicular development and atresia. The diagnosis of autoimmune-related POF is based on the discovery of autoimmune antibodies and the combined autoimmune diseases. Interestingly, there is high similarity in the expression profile of those factors between POF and autoimmune diseases. Whether autoimmune-related POF has a common mechanism with autoimmune diseases needs more study.

Key words: Ovarian failure, premature, Autoimmunity, Autoantibodies, Cytokines, Autoimmune diseases