Effects of oral and transdermal estrogen therapies on circulating cytokines and chemokines in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to determine the different effects of oral estrogen therapy (ET) and transdermal ET on changes in circulating levels of cytokines and chemokines in relationship to changes in markers of inflammation in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy.


METHODS
Fifty-five postmenopausal women with hysterectomy were randomly assigned in open, parallel-group fashion to an oral ET group and a transdermal ET group. Serum levels of cytokines and chemokines were simultaneously measured using a multiplexed human cytokine assay. Serum concentrations of high-sensitive C-reactive protein, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin were measured as vascular inflammation markers.


RESULTS
Both oral ET and transdermal ET significantly decreased serum interleukin (IL)-7 concentrations at 12 months (P=0.020 and P=0.015 respectively). Transdermal ET decreased serum concentrations of IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1beta (P=0.05, P=0.019, and P=0.029), but oral ET increased IL-8 level (P=0.025). There were significant differences in percentage changes in IL-8 and MIP-1beta between the oral and transdermal ET groups. Oral ET significantly decreased E-selectin level after 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Transdermal ET reduces circulating levels of IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1beta, while both oral ET and transdermal ET reduce circulating level of IL-7.
Yasui
Toshiyuki
T
Department of Obstetrics, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto, Tokushima, Japan. yasui@clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
Saijo
Ayako
A
Uemura
Hirokazu
H
Matsuzaki
Toshiya
T
Tsuchiya
Naoko
N
Yuzurihara
Mitsutoshi
M
Kase
Yoshio
Y
Irahara
Minoru
M
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D019040:E-Selectin; D004967:Estrogens; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein