title: Different circulating levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-8 during the menopausal transition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to clarify the changes in circulating cytokines and chemokines in women during the menopausal transition by using a detailed classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 554 women were recruited for this study from the outpatient clinic of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokushima University Hospital. We divided the women into seven stages by menstrual regularity and FSH level: mid-reproductive stage, late reproductive stage, early menopausal transition, late menopausal transition, very early postmenopause, early postmenopause and late postmenopause. We measured serum concentrations of nine cytokines (IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MIP-1β and MCP-1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum IL-8 concentrations in postmenopausal women were significantly (p = 0.001) higher than those in women in the mid- or late reproductive stage and women in early or late menopausal transition. Serum MCP-1 levels in women in late menopausal transition and postmenopause were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than those in women in the mid- or late reproductive stage and women in early menopausal transition. MCP-1 level showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.215, p < 0.01) with FSH level in women in menopausal transition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By using a detailed classification of menopausal transition, patterns of changes in IL-8 and MCP-1 levels during the menopausal transition were found to be different. IL-8 level showed a high level after menopause, while MCP-1 level showed a high level in menopausal transition. MCP-1 may be sensitive to hormonal change and may be involved in the development of estrogen deficiency diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Kuramoto-Cho 3-18-15, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan. atani@clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Sumika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kunimi
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.forename: Mitsutoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuzurihara
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kase
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irahara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D018925:Chemokines; D016209:Interleukin-8; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone