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Horm Metab Res 2007; 39(5): 366-371
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-976543
Original Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Inverse Relationship between Serum Levels of Interleukin-1β and Testosterone in Men with Stable Coronary Artery Disease

J. E. Nettleship 1 , P. J. Pugh 1 , 2 , K. S. Channer 2 , 3 , T. Jones 1 , 4 , R. D. Jones 1
  • 1Hormone & Vascular Biology Group, Academic Unit of Diabetes Endocrinology & Metabolism, The University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
  • 2Department of Cardiology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
  • 3Faculty of Health & Wellbeing, Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield, UK
  • 4Centre for Diabetes & Endocrinology, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley, UK
Further Information

Publication History

received 6. 9. 2006

accepted 22. 12. 2006

Publication Date:
29 May 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Objectives: To examine the relationship between serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and testosterone in men with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Evidence supports a beneficial effect of testosterone upon objective measures of myocardial ischaemia in men with CAD, and in animal models of atherosclerosis. Inflammatory cytokines are involved in many stages of the atherosclerotic process, however, the effect of testosterone upon inflammatory cytokines within the cardiovascular system is largely unknown.

Methods: Serum was collected from 69 men (59±1 years) having >75% occlusion of 1, 2, or 3 coronary arteries. Levels of total testosterone (TT), bioavailable testosterone (BT), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-1-beta (IL-1β), IL-6 and IL-10 were measured and analysis made between men with 1, 2, or 3 vessel CAD, and between men with hypogonadal, borderline hypogonadal and eugonadal serum levels of testosterone.

Results: In patients with 1, 2, or 3 vessel CAD, significant stepwise increases were observed in levels of IL-1β: 0.16±0.03, 0.22±0.06, and 0.41±0.08 pg/ml (p=0.035), and IL-10: 0.93±0.11, 1.17±0.14, and 2.94±0.65 pg/ml (p=0.008). A significant stepwise increase in levels of IL-1β was also observed in eugonadal, borderline hypogonadal, and hypogonadal men: 0.19±0.05, 0.29±0.05, and 0.46±0.13 pg/ml (p=0.047).

Conclusion: Consequently this data implicates IL-1β and IL-10 in the pathogenesis of CAD and suggests that testosterone may regulate IL-1β activity in men with CAD.

Key words

IL-1β - IL-10 - testosterone - coronary artery disease - hypogonadism

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1 This project was funded by the National Heart Research Fund, UK and the Hallamshire Cardiology Research Fund, UK
There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Correspondence

Dr. R. D. Jones

27 Sandygate Road

Sheffield S10 5NG

UK

Email: R.D.Jones@hotmail.co.uk

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