Key result
In men with stable CAD, hypogonadal testosterone levels were associated with significantly higher IL-1beta levels compared to eugonadal men (0.46 vs 0.19 pg/ml, p=0.047).
Cross-Sectional (n=69)
p-value: p=0.047
In men with stable CAD, lower testosterone levels are associated with higher levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta, suggesting a potential regulatory role of testosterone in atherosclerosis-related inflammation.
Suggests possible inflammatory effects of hypogonadism in stable CAD; hypothesis-generating and should not change practice.
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 (TNFalpha), interleukin (IL)-1-beta (IL-1beta), 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-1beta: 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-1beta 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-1beta and IL-10 in the pathogenesis of CAD and suggests that testosterone may regulate IL-1beta activity in men with CAD.
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Nettleship et al. (2007) conducted a cross-sectional in Stable coronary artery disease (n=69). Hypogonadal testosterone levels vs. Eugonadal testosterone levels was evaluated on Serum levels of IL-1beta (p=0.047). In men with stable CAD, hypogonadal testosterone levels were associated with significantly higher IL-1beta levels compared to eugonadal men (0.46 vs 0.19 pg/ml, p=0.047).
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