| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Special Articles |
Departments of Internal Medicine I (R.H.S., T.A., J.S.) and II (G.A.J.R., H.S.), University Medical Center, Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg; and Institute of Epidemiology, University of Munster (H.W.H.), Munster, Germany
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Rainer H. Straub, M.D., Laboratory of Neuroendocrinoimmunology, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Medical Center, 93042 Regensburg, Germany. E-mail: rainer.straub{at}klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Postmenopausal women are at increased risk to develop osteoporosis, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and hypertension. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) may be a pathogenetic element in these disorders. Serum IL-6 levels increase during aging and seem to be related to increased body fat mass. In the present retrospective study we aimed to investigate the role of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on serum IL-6 levels and the interrelation of IL-6 and body fat mass. Parameters were assessed in a population-based sample of postmenopausal women (n = 302) and, for comparison, 245 men of the same age. Women with HRT (n = 92) had significantly lower serum IL-6 levels compared to subjects without HRT, which was independent of age, antihypertensive therapy, smoking habits, and blood pressure (1.5 ± 0.1 vs. 2.9 ± 0.6 pg/mL; P = 0.017). In women without HRT, the body mass index (BMI) was correlated with serum IL-6 levels (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis controlling simultaneously for the effects of blood pressure and heart rate confirmed the positive correlation (P = 0.001). However, in subjects with HRT no such correlation between IL-6 and BMI was demonstrated, which was confirmed after controlling covariates. In male subjects, BMI correlated with serum IL-6 (P = 0.009), which was, however, blunted after controlling for blood pressure and heart rate, probably indicating an influence of the sympathetic nervous system on this interrelation. In conclusion, women receiving HRT display lower serum IL-6 levels and a blunted interrelation of IL-6 and BMI. As IL-6 may be a pathogenetic factor in age-related diseases, HRT-related inhibition of IL-6 secretion could be an important element for the favorable effects of HRT in postmenopausal women.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  S. Banerjee, K. Saito, M. Ait-Goughoulte, K. Meyer, R. B. Ray, and R. Ray Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein Upregulates Serine Phosphorylation of Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 and Impairs the Downstream Akt/Protein Kinase B Signaling Pathway for Insulin Resistance J. Virol., March 15, 2008; 82(6): 2606 - 2612. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. H. Straub The Complex Role of Estrogens in Inflammation Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2007; 28(5): 521 - 574. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. L. Turgeon, M. C. Carr, P. M. Maki, M. E. Mendelsohn, and P. M. Wise Complex Actions of Sex Steroids in Adipose Tissue, the Cardiovascular System, and Brain: Insights from Basic Science and Clinical Studies Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2006; 27(6): 575 - 605. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. W. Timmons, M. J. Hamadeh, and M. A. Tarnopolsky No effect of short-term 17beta-estradiol supplementation in healthy men on systemic inflammatory responses to exercise Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, August 1, 2006; 291(2): R285 - R290. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Bouman, M. J. Heineman, and M. M. Faas Sex hormones and the immune response in humans Hum. Reprod. Update, July 1, 2005; 11(4): 411 - 423. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. L. Speyer, N. J. Rancilio, S. D. McClintock, J. D. Crawford, H. Gao, J. V. Sarma, and P. A. Ward Regulatory effects of estrogen on acute lung inflammation in mice Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, April 1, 2005; 288(4): C881 - C890. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Ropponen, K. Aittomaki, M. J. Tikkanen, and O. Ylikorkala Levels of Serum C-Reactive Protein during Oral and Transdermal Estradiol in Postmenopausal Women with and without a History of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2005; 90(1): 142 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. Keller, C. Keller, L. E. Robinson, and B. K. Pedersen Epinephrine infusion increases adipose interleukin-6 gene expression and systemic levels in humans J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2004; 97(4): 1309 - 1312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A. McKenzie, E. P. Weiss, I. A. Ghiu, O. Kulaputana, D. A. Phares, R. E. Ferrell, and J. M. Hagberg Influence of the interleukin-6 -174 G/C gene polymorphism on exercise training-induced changes in glucose tolerance indexes J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2004; 97(4): 1338 - 1342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. Rotter, I. Nagaev, and U. Smith Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Induces Insulin Resistance in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Is, Like IL-8 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-{alpha}, Overexpressed in Human Fat Cells from Insulin-resistant Subjects J. Biol. Chem., November 14, 2003; 278(46): 45777 - 45784. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Fernandez-Real and W. Ricart Insulin Resistance and Chronic Cardiovascular Inflammatory Syndrome Endocr. Rev., June 1, 2003; 24(3): 278 - 301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Davison and S. R. Davis New Markers for Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Women: Impact of Endogenous Estrogen Status and Exogenous Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2003; 88(6): 2470 - 2478. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.-M. Fernandez-Real, M. Pugeat, M. Grasa, M. Broch, J. Vendrell, J. Brun, and W. Ricart Serum Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin Concentration and Insulin Resistance Syndrome: A Population Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2002; 87(10): 4686 - 4690. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. D. Pradhan, J. E. Manson, J. E. Rossouw, D. S. Siscovick, C. P. Mouton, N. Rifai, R. B. Wallace, R. D. Jackson, M. B. Pettinger, and P. M Ridker Inflammatory Biomarkers, Hormone Replacement Therapy, and Incident Coronary Heart Disease: Prospective Analysis From the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study JAMA, August 28, 2002; 288(8): 980 - 987. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
U. S. Masiukiewicz, M. Mitnick, B. I. Gulanski, and K. L. Insogna Evidence that the IL-6/IL-6 Soluble Receptor Cytokine System Plays a Role in the Increased Skeletal Sensitivity to PTH in Estrogen-Deficient Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2002; 87(6): 2892 - 2898. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. S Mikkola and T. B Clarkson Estrogen replacement therapy, atherosclerosis, and vascular function Cardiovasc Res, February 15, 2002; 53(3): 605 - 619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Pfeilschifter, R. Koditz, M. Pfohl, and H. Schatz Changes in Proinflammatory Cytokine Activity after Menopause Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2002; 23(1): 90 - 119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. J. Puder, P. U. Freda, R. S. Goland, and S. L. Wardlaw Estrogen Modulates the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Inflammatory Cytokine Responses to Endotoxin in Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2001; 86(6): 2403 - 2408. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Scheidt-Nave, H. Bismar, G. Leidig-Bruckner, H. Woitge, M. J. Seibel, R. Ziegler, and J. Pfeilschifter Serum Interleukin 6 Is a Major Predictor of Bone Loss in Women Specific to the First Decade Past Menopause J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2001; 86(5): 2032 - 2042. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.-M. Fernandez-Real, M. Vayreda, C. Richart, C. Gutierrez, M. Broch, J. Vendrell, and W. Ricart Circulating Interleukin 6 Levels, Blood Pressure, and Insulin Sensitivity in Apparently Healthy Men and Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2001; 86(3): 1154 - 1159. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. A. Papanicolaou Interleukin-6: The Endocrine Cytokine J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2000; 85(3): 1331 - 1333. [Full Text]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Endocrinology | Endocrine Reviews | J. Clin. End. & Metab. |
| Molecular Endocrinology | Recent Prog. Horm. Res. | All Endocrine Journals |
