Relationship of age-related serum transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and TGF-β2 with osteoprotegerin and leptin in women

Abstract

Objective To investigate the changes of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-131)and β2 (TGF-β2) with age in females and their relationships with osteoprotegerin(OPG) and leptin. Methods Serum TGF-β1, TGF-β2, OPG and leptin concentrations in 459 healthy adult women(aged 25-80 yr) were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Serum TGF-β1 (r =-0. 335, P < 0.01) was negatively while TGF-β2(r=0.230,P<0.01)positively correlated with the age. The geometric mean values of TGF-β1, OPG and leptin were (29.7±1.69) μg/L, (3.81±1.96) pmol/L and (10.5±2.01) μg/L, respectively. The arithmetic mean value of TGF-β2 was(13.74±3.86) μg/L. Concentrations of TGF-β1 in premenopansal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women were (37.6±1.64), (33.4±1.69) and (24.3±1.59)μg/L,respectivly. Moreover, the concentration of TGF-β1 in postmenopausal women was significantly lower than that in perimenopausal and premenopausal women. The concentrations of TGF-β2 in premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women were (11.7±2.68), (13.5±3.93) and (14.6±3.91) μg/L respectively, being increased in echelon. TGF-β1 was negatively correlated with TGF-β2(r=-0.261 ,P<0.01) and OPG (r =-0. 313, P<0. 01), but positively correlated with leptin (r = 0. 164, P<0.01). TGF-β2 was positively correlated with OPG (r=0. 432,P<0. 01). Conclusions The reference ranges of serum TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 in healthy adult females are established. Both TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 of them are correlated with OPG and ieptin. Key words: Transforming growth factor-β1 ; Transforming growth factor-β2; Osteoprotegerin; Leptin