The relationship between the levels of gonadotropic hormones and OPG, leptin, TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 in Chinese adult women.

Background: The relationship between the levels of gonadotropic hormones and bone metabolism-related cytokines in Chinese women is unclear. We investigated the relationship between FSH and LH and OPG, leptin, TGF-beta1, and TGF-beta2 in Chinese women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 694 Chinese women, aged 20 to 82y was conducted. Levels of serum FSH, LH, OPG, leptin, TGF-beta1, and TGF-beta2 were determined.

Results: In premenopausal females, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels seemly showed no correlation with the cytokine levels. In perimenopausal females, serum FSH and LH levels showed significant positive correlation with osteoprotegerin (OPG) and transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2) levels (r=0.286 to 0.405, all P=0.000), whereas they showed negative correlation with TGF-beta1 levels (r=-0.413 and -0.354, all P=0.000). In postmenopausal females, FSH and LH levels showed positive correlation with OPG levels (r=0.247 and 0.241, all P=0.000), negative correlation with leptin and TGF-beta1 levels (r=-0.234 to -0.319, all P=0.000), and no correlation with TGF-beta2 levels. Multiple linear regression stepwise analysis revealed the following results. In premenopausal females, 2.0% and 1.5% of the changes in LH could be explained by OPG and leptin, respectively, while 1.9% of the changes in OPG could be explained by LH. In perimenopausal females, the determinants of OPG and TGF-beta1 on FSH were 10.9% and 17.0%, respectively, and the determinants of OPG, TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 on LH were 4.5%, 4.9% and 16.4%, respectively. The determinants of FSH and LH on OPG were 14.5% and 2.5%, respectively. The determinant of FSH on TGF-beta1 was 4.5%, while the determinant of LH on TGF-beta2 was 16.4%. In postmenopausal females, the determinants of leptin and OPG on FSH were 10.2% and 2.8%, respectively, and the determinants of OPG and TGF-beta1 on LH were 5.8% and 2.3%, respectively. The determinant of FSH on OPG, leptin and TGF-beta1 were 6.1%, 3.4% and 9.2%.

Conclusions: These results indicate that age-related gonadotropic hormone levels are associated with changes in OPG, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 and leptin, and change with menopausal status.