Study of androgen and atherosclerosis in old-age male.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the difference of androgen and inflammatory cytokines level in atherosclerosis and analyse their relations.


METHODS
Both carotid arteries and arteries of lower extremity were subjected to ultrasonic examination by Doppler's method. Those with much atheromatous plaque formation were ranged into case group, and those with normal result formed control group. Total, free testosterone and estradiol were assayed by radioimmunoassay. C reactive protein (CRP) was assayed by nepheloturbidity. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-18 (IL-18), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were assayed by ELISA. The mean difference between two groups and the correlation between free testosterone and cytokines were analysed.


RESULTS
Free testosterone was (6.337+/-3.371) pg/L in case group and (11.375+/-4.733) pg/L in control group, P<0.01. No differences were found in total testosterone and estradiol. CRP was (27.294+/-10.238) mg/L in case group and (12.843+/-6.318) mg/L in control group, P<0.01. IL-6 was (41.700+/-31.385) pg/L in case group and (25.396+/-20.772) pg/L in control group, P<0.05. IL-8 was (89.249+/-58.357) pg/L in case group and (67.873+/-31.227) pg/L in control group, P<0.05. sICAM-1 was (470.491+/-134.078) pg/L in case group and (368.487+/-97.183) pg/L in control group, P<0.01. sVCAM-1 was (537.808+/-213.172) pg/L in case group and (457.275+/-157.273) pg/L in control group, P<0.05. There were no differences in TNF-alpha, IL-10 and IL-18. Correlation analysis showed that FT (free testosterone) had negative correlation with CRP, IL-6 and sICAM-1. Among them FT had well correlation with CRP, correlation index was -0.678.


CONCLUSIONS
Free testosterone was in negative correlation with atherosclerosis in old-age male. Free testosterone may have the role of anti-atherosclerosis, and this effect was not achieved by its transformation to estradiol. Low free testosterone level was followed by increased level of inflammatory cytokines. Low free testosterones coexist with inflammation and they both affect the process of atherosclerosis in old-age male.
Yang
Yun-Mei
YM
Department of Very Important People, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Lv
Xue-Ying
XY
Huang
Wei-Dong
WD
Xu
Zhe-Rong
ZR
Wu
Ling-Jiao
LJ
D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D002097:C-Reactive Protein