Zusammenfassung
Aging is accompanied by marked changes of steroid hormone levels which vary among women and men. The age-related increase of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)- 6 may modulate the endocrine system. We aimed to investigate the role of IL-6 for the gender-specific changes of acrophase steroid hormone secretion in healthy subjects during aging. Out of 120 healthy subjects, 60 men and 48 women (non ...
Zusammenfassung
Aging is accompanied by marked changes of steroid hormone levels which vary among women and men. The age-related increase of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)- 6 may modulate the endocrine system. We aimed to investigate the role of IL-6 for the gender-specific changes of acrophase steroid hormone secretion in healthy subjects during aging. Out of 120 healthy subjects, 60 men and 48 women (non luteal phase) were recruited (age: 18 to 75 years). Age was positively correlated with IL-6 (female and male: p<0.001) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in women only (p<0.001). Age was negatively correlated with progesterone (female and male: p<0.001), cortisol (only female: p=0.003), androstenedione (female and male: p<0.001), but not 17OH progesterone. After correction for IL-6, the age related decrease of steroid hormones was blunted in both gender groups except for androstenedione (female and male: p<0.005). Furthermore, the ratio of serum cortisol to plasma ACTH decreased with age only in women but not in men (female: pi 0.001). Correction for IL 6 did not markedly change the negative interrelationship between age and the mentioned ratio in these women. However, a linear regression analysis revealed that the increase of ACTH in relation to cortisol depends on serum free testosterone in men (p=0.042) End on serum free 17<beta>-estradiol (p<0.001) together with serum IL-6 in women (p=0.021). In conclusion, IL-6 plays an important role for acrophase pituitary and peripheral hormone secretion in women only. The gender-specific changes of cortisol in relation to ACTH depend on the age-related decrease of the respective sex hormone in both gender groups and the increase of IL-6 in women. This study underlines the hormone-like role of IL-6 in the aging process of the endocrine system in women.
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