Immunology

Biography

Biography: IIldikó Molnár

Abstract

Postmenopausal women demonstrate increased susceptibility to chronic inflammatory events. Estrogen deficiency increases the production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), as well as activates the IL-17 receptor signaling pathway. IL-17 (also known as IL-17A) is a new candidate in the chronic inflammatory diseases, produced by T helper 17 (Th17) lymphocytes and effects on neutrophil recruitment and granulopoesis. We studied the relationship between IL-17A serum levels and estrogen deficiency, as well as IL-17A-mediated osteoporosis in postmeno¬pausal women. Seventy-two post-menopausal and 22 pre-menopausal women formed the patient groups. Estradiol, osteoprotegerin (OPG), soluble receptor activator of NF-κB (sRANK) ligand, IL-17A were measured with enzyme-linked immunoassy (ELISA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was carried out. High prevalence of elevated IL-17A serum levels were demonstrated in postmeno¬pausal women compared to premenopausal ones (3.5±0.56 vs 2.88±0.08 ng/ml, P<0.0001). IL-17A levels showed age-related dependency and a remarkable association with the postmenopausal period (P<0.05). Osteoporotic women demonstrated higher IL-17A, OPG and sRANK ligand serum levels than those who had osteopenia (3.65±0.61 vs. 3.31±0.43 ng/ml for IL-17A, P<0.007; 2.88±0.84 vs. 2.49±0.61 ng/mk for sRANK ligand, P<0.027; 1.43±0.07 vs. 1.39±0.07 ng/ml for OPG, P<0.038). IL-17A levels inversely correlated with total lumbar bone mineral densities (BMDs) (Pí0.0008, r=-0.279) and positively with sRANK ligand levels (P<0.0001, r=0.387). The results demonstrated a high prevalence of increased IL-17A serum levels in postmenopausal estrogen deficiency highlighting its role in chronic infflammatory events such as in bone loss and age-related susceptibility to chronic inflammatory diseases.