Persistence of androgenic effects on the production of proinflammatory cytokines by circulating antigen-presenting cells after withdrawal of testosterone treatment in aging type 2 diabetic men with partial androgen deficiency.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that T treatment withdrawal could be associated with an enhancement of proinflammatory cytokine production by peripheral blood monocytes and dendritic cells.


METHODS
A prospective intervention study.


METHODS
Tertiary university hospital.


METHODS
Thirteen type 2 diabetic men aged >55 years with partial androgen deficiency and eight age-matched healthy men (controls).


METHODS
Analyses were performed before and 12 months after T replacement therapy and the results compared with those obtained for the same patients after a 3-month T withdrawal period.


METHODS
Distribution of circulating T, B, and natural killer lymphocytes, monocytes, and CD33(hi) myeloid, CD16+, and plasmacytoid dendritic cell subsets. Spontaneous and stimulated ex vivo production of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) by circulating monocytes and dendritic cells, which represent the most potent antigen-presenting cells.


RESULTS
The reduction or complete abrogation of spontaneous ex vivo production of proinflammatory cytokines by monocytes and dendritic cells observed after 12 months of T replacement therapy was maintained 3 months after T withdrawal.


CONCLUSIONS
These are the first results showing that exogenous T treatment deprivation is not associated with an immunologic enhancement of proinflammatory cytokine production by antigen-presenting cells.
Corrales
Juan José
JJ
Service of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Salamanca, University of Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 57, Salamanca, Spain. corrales@usal.es
Almeida
María
M
Miralles
José Manuel
JM
Orfao
Alberto
A
D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000172:deficiency*; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000728:Androgens; D016207:Cytokines; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013739:Testosterone