title: Androgen receptor (CAG)n polymorphism and androgen levels in women with systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy controls.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that affects mainly females. Therefore, interrelations between the reproductive and immune system have been assumed. Considering the complex influence of hormones and receptors, we aimed to investigate the influence of androgens and androgen receptor (AR) polymorphism in women with SLE. One hundred and sixteen patients and 44 healthy women were investigated. Testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) concentrations and AR (CAG)n polymorphism were determined. SLE patients had significantly lower levels of total and free testosterone and DHEAS in comparison with the controls. No differences in the CAG repeat length between the groups were established. Women with two alleles carrying more than 22 CAG repeats had significantly higher levels of SHBG (101.51 ± 61.81 vs. 69.22 ± 45.93 nmol/l, p = 0.015) and DHEAS (3.11 ± 2.65 vs. 2.11 ± 3.06 μmol/l, p = 0.007) and a tendency to higher testosterone concentrations (2.35 ± 2.10 vs. 1.71 ± 1.70 nmol/l, p = 0.056) in comparison with other women. The CAG repeat length in the relatively longer (CAG)n allele was inversely related to the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR index (r = -0.258, p = 0.009). In conclusion, the androgen receptor (CAG)n polymorphism is not related to the development of SLE, but it could modulate the severity of the lupus chronic damages as well as the androgen levels in women.
authors: Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, USBALE, Medical University, Faculty of Medicine, Sofia, 2, Zdrave Str., Sofia 1431, Bulgaria. rali_robeva@yahoo.com
authors: Ralitsa
authors: R
authors: Robeva
authors: Dobromir
authors: D
authors: Tanev
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Andonova
authors: Georgi
authors: G
authors: Kirilov
authors: Alexey
authors: A
authors: Savov
authors: Milena
authors: M
authors: Stoycheva
authors: Analia
authors: A
authors: Tomova
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Kumanov
authors: Rasho
authors: R
authors: Rashkov
authors: Zlatimir
authors: Z
authors: Kolarov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen
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