Assessment of selected serum inflammatory markers of acute phase response and their correlations with adrenal androgens and metabolic syndrome in a population of men over the age of 40.
BACKGROUND
Inflammatory mechanisms and decreasing adrenal androgen production are involved in the pathogenesis of numerous age-related diseases.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to assess selected negative (transferrin) and positive (alpha1-antichymotrypsin [alpha1-ACT], C-reactive protein [CRP]) acute phase proteins, and to investigate associations between these proteins and serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels, as well as anthropometrical and biochemical indices of metabolic syndrome (MS) in men over 40 years of age.


METHODS
In 271 randomly selected men aged 40 to 80 years and living in the province of Lubuskie, Poland, transferrin, alpha1-ACT, CRP, and adrenal androgens were measured and features of metabolic syndrome were evaluated.


RESULTS
Age is strongly correlated with acute phase proteins in men: positively for CRP and alpha1-ACT (r = 0.216, P <0.001 and r = 0.193, P <0.05, respectively) and negatively for transferrin (r = -0.268, P <0.0001). CRP revealed a negative correlation with DHEA (r = -0.248, P <0.05), although not with DHEA-S. There were no correlations between alpha1-ACT, transferrin, and adrenal androgens. As opposed to adrenal androgens, serum CRP and transferrin (but not alpha1-ACT) levels are associated with metabolic syndrome (MS) in men over 40 years of age (P <0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
A prognostic test using systemic markers of general inflammation (especially CRP) may help (as opposed to DHEA and DHEA-S) identify men over 40 years of age who suffer from MS.
Herman
Waldemar A
WA
Klinika Chorób Wewnetrznych, Endokrynologii i Diabetologii, Centralny Szpital Kliniczny, MSWiA, Warszawa.
Seńko
Aleksandra
A
Korczowska
Izabela
I
Lacka
Katarzyna
K
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin / Q000097:blood
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D014168:Transferrin; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D002097:C-Reactive Protein