Relationship between age-related serum concentrations of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 and those of osteoprotegerin and leptin in native Chinese women

Abstract

Background Transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β1), TGF-β2, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and leptin are important cytokines in the regulation of bone remodeling. We investigated the relationship of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 concentrations with those of OPG and leptin in Chinese females. Methods The serum concentrations of TGF-β1, TGF-β2, OPG, and leptin were measured by ELISA in 459 healthy Chinese females aged 25–80 y. Results The mean values (± SD) of the serum concentrations of TGF-β1, TGF-β2, OPG, and leptin in Chinese females were 29.7 ± 1.69 μg/l, 13.7 ± 3.86 μg/l, 3.81 ± 1.96 pmol/l, and 10.5 ± 2.01 μg/l, respectively. Further, the serum TGF-β1 concentrations of postmenopausal women were significantly lower than those of perimenopausal and premenopausal women (24.3 ± 1.59 vs 33.4 ± 1.69 and 37.6 ± 1.64, respectively), while the TGF-β2 concentrations of postmenopausal women were significantly higher than those of perimenopausal and premenopausal women (14.6 ± 3.91 vs 13.5 ± 3.93 and 11.7 ± 2.68, respectively). The serum TGF-β1 concentration was found to be significantly negatively correlated with age ( r = − 0.335, P = 0.000) and the TGF-β2 concentration, to be significantly positively correlated with age ( r = 0.230, P = 0.000). The TGF-β1 concentration was found to be significantly negatively correlated with both TGF-β2 ( r = − 0.261, P = 0.000) and OPG ( r = − 0.313, P = 0.000) concentrations; a significantly positive correlation was found between the TGF-β1 and leptin concentrations ( r = 0.164, P = 0.000) and between TGF-β2 and OPG concentrations ( r = 0.432, P = 0.000). Conclusion These results provide age-related reference values of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 in Chinese adult women, and reveal the relationships between these cytokines.