The Study On Sex Hormones And IL-6 In Postmenopausal Women With Primary Sj(?)gren's Syndrome

The study on sex hormones and IL-6 in postmenopausal women with primary Sjogren'ssyndromeObjective:Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is one of chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases, which affects multiple tissues throughout the body, but in particular exocrine glands. This disorder is more commen in women than men with the prevalence of 9 females for each male and the high prevalence is observed after menopause. Indeed some scientific reports have addressed either in whole or in part the basic and clinical effect of gender on immune system. Data also exist to support the changes of interleukin-6 (IL-6) level in some autoimmune diseases. We aimed to measure the serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone (Te) and estradiol (E2) and the serum and the saliver levels of IL-6 in the postmenopausal women with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) in order to investigate the role of sex hormones and IL-6 in the pathogenesis, perpetuation and possible therapy of pSS.Methods:Serum E2 and Te were estimated by the commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA) kits, whereas serum DHEAS were measured by enzyme-amplifiedchemiluminescence assay (CLA) . Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to determine levels of IL-6 in serum and saliver. Comparisons between the means in each group were calculated by Student's two-tailed t-test using the SPSS 10.0 for Windows. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the data. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:1- The DHEAS and the Te level in serum were lower in postmenopausal patients with pSS than in healthy controls(P<0.01, P<0.01).2. There was no significant difference of serum ? level between postmenopausal patients with pSS and control groups(P>0.05).3. The serum and the saliver levels of IL-6 in pSS patients after menopause were higher than that in controls(P<0.01, P<0.01).4. The serum and the saliver levels of IL-6 were positively correlated with IgG in postmenopausal patients with pSS(r=0.699, P<0.01; r=0.546, P<0.05).5. The serum and the saliver levels of IL-6 were positively correlated with ESR in postmenopausal patients with pSS(r=0.757, P<0.01; r=0.544, P<0.05).6. The serum and the saliver levels of IL-6 had no correlation with IgA -. IgM in pSS patients after menopause (r=0.392, P>0.05; r=0.393, P>0.05; A-0.412, P>0.05; r=0.29\, P>0.05).7. The IL-6 level of pSS patients after menopause in serum was positively correlated with that in saliver(r=0.649, P<0.01).8. Serum DHEAS level was negatively correlated with the concentrations of IL-6 in serum and saliver in postmenopausal patients with pSS (>=-0.738, P.01; /--0.693, P<0.01).9. Serum Te level was negatively correlated with the concentrations ofIL-6 in serum and saliver in postmenopausal patients with pSS (r=-0.514, P< 0.05; r=-0.623, P<0.01).10. Serum EI level was positively correlated with the concentration of IL-6 in saliver(r=0.554, P<0.01), but there was no correlation between ? level and the serum IL-6 level in postmenopausal patients with pSS(r=0.340, P>0.05).Conclusion:1 Serum DHEAS and Te levels decreased in postmenopausal patients with pSS. It supports that the decrease of androgens may be involved in the pathogenesis of pSS. There was no significant difference of serum 2 level between pSS and control groups, However, the ratio of serum estrogens to androgens seems to be changed in pSS.2. The serum and the saliver levels of IL-6 in pSS patients after menopause increased, which had positive association with IgG and ESR. Data suggest that there are effects of IL-6 on the pathogenesis and perpetuation of pSS.3. The IL-6 level in serum of pSS patients after menopause had a positive association with that in saliver. It suggests that the saliver level of IL-6 may be a indicator of the serum level of IL-6 in pSS.4. The serum and the saliver levels of IL-6 in pSS patients after menopause had a negative association with the seru...