Effects of tibolone on selectins in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
The first step in atherosclerosis is characterized by the adherence of lymphocytes and monocytes to cell adhesion molecules expressed by endothelial cells. The precise mechanism by which steroid hormones may be exerting a protective action against atherogenesis remains unclear. Therefore, we wanted to investigate the effect of tibolone on the circulating levels of various selectins in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Thirty healthy postmenopausal women were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled outpatient trial.


RESULTS
Patients treated with tibolone revealed a significant decrease for the variables sE-selectin, sL-selectin, and sPECAM-1 after 8 weeks of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
By reducing leukocyte adhesion molecule expression on human endothelial cells, tibolone may have the intrinsic potential to exert additional, lipid-independent, cardiovascular protective effects that may explain the clinical benefits of cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women.
Sator
Kathrin
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Endocrinology & Reproductive Medicine, University of Vienna, General Hospital, Waehringer, Austria.
Sator
Michael O
MO
Sator
Paul G
PG
Egarter
Christian
C
Huber
Johannes C
JC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019040:E-Selectin; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D009652:Norpregnenes; D019007:P-Selectin; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D019041:L-Selectin; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; C027385:tibolone