title: Associations between Serum Sex Hormone Concentrations and Whole Blood Gene Expression Profiles in the General Population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite observational evidence from epidemiological and clinical studies associating sex hormones with various cardiometabolic risk factors or diseases, pathophysiological explanations are sparse to date. To reveal putative functional insights, we analyzed associations between sex hormone levels and whole blood gene expression profiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data of 991 individuals from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-TREND) with whole blood gene expression levels determined by array-based transcriptional profiling and serum concentrations of total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free testosterone (free T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione (AD), estradiol (E2), and estrone (E1) measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and immunoassay. Associations between sex hormone concentrations and gene expression profiles were analyzed using sex-specific regression models adjusted for age, body mass index, and technical covariables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In men, positive correlations were detected between AD and DDIT4 mRNA levels, as well as between SHBG and the mRNA levels of RPIA, RIOK3, GYPB, BPGM, and RAB2B. No additional significant associations were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides the associations between AD and DDIT4 expression and SHBG and the transcript levels of RPIA, RIOK3, GYPB, BPGM, and RAB2B, the present study did not indicate any association between sex hormone concentrations and whole blood gene expression profiles in men and women from the general population.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haring
authors.affiliation: Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schurmann
authors.affiliation: Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Homuth
authors.affiliation: Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steil
authors.affiliation: DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Völker
authors.affiliation: DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Institute for Community Medicine; University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Völzke
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital South Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Brian G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Keevil
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nauck
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wallaschofski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D059467:Transcriptome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate