title: Strong and positive association of endothelin-1 with AGEs in PCOS: a causal relationship or a bystander?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) activate the intracellular Nuclear Factor-κB pathway in endothelial cells, leading to production of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a peptide which causes endothelial dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to assess ΕΤ-1 and AGEs levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and controls and to investigate any potential relationship between them.
  
  
  METHODS
  Metabolic and hormonal data from 75 women with PCOS and 25 controls, matched for age and ΒΜΙ were analyzed and correlated to AGEs and ET-1 levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of ΕΤ-1 (1.55±0.13 vs. 0.37±0.10 pmol/l, p:0.003) and AGEs (8.34±1,81 vs. 5.77±0.78U/ml, p:0.002) were significantly higher in the PCOS group. ΕΤ-1 was correlated with AGES (r:0.54, p<0.001), Testosterone (r: 0.38, p<0.001), ΔΑ4 (r: 0.41, p<0.001) and FAI (r: 0.21, p<0.05). However, multiple linear regression analysis in the total study population showed that ΕΤ-1 was positively associated only with AGES (β: 0.22, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ET-1 levels were positively and strongly associated with AGEs in both PCOS women and controls, suggesting that the detrimental effect of AGEs on endothelial cells may involve increased ET-1 production.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Unit, Third Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Charikleia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christakou
authors.forename: Frangiskos
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: Sarantis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Livadas
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piperi
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adamopoulos
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marinakis
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jdiamanti-Kandarakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D019332:Endothelin-1; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D007328:Insulin; D013739:Testosterone