title: Pituitary-gonadal hormones and interleukin patterns in leprosy.
abstract: The functional status of pituitary-gonadal hormones and their relationship to the pattern of inflammatory cytokines in the lepromatous (LL/BL) and tuberculoid (TT/BT) poles of leprosy were investigated. Gonadotropins [luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)], interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were significantly higher in LL/BL leprosy patients than in controls and were not different from controls in TT/BT patients. LH and FSH were positively correlated with IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, and CRP concentrations and ESR. Testosterone plasma levels were significantly decreased in LL/BL patients and not different in TT/BT patients compared with controls. In addition, testosterone levels were inversely correlated with IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Prolactin plasma levels of both LL/BL and TT/BT patients were not different when compared with those of controls. There was a significant positive correlation between IL-6 and TNF-alpha plasma levels and ESR and CRP concentrations. IL-1beta was positively correlated with ESR but not with CRP. The significant correlations between gonadotropins and testosterone and cytokines in leprosy patients suggest that cytokines may have a direct influence at testicular level and may be of pathogenetic significance in leprosy and in other inflammatory states involving reproductive dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil. leal10@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Angela M O
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Patrícia K R
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Cacilda S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Norma T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Foss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007918:Leprosy / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein