Interactions among thyroid hormone (FT4), chemokine (MCP-1) and neurotrophin (NGF-β) levels studied in Hungarian postmenopausal and obese women.

Thyroid dysfunction is more frequent in postmenopause and metabolic syndrome characterized by increased proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNFα), insulin resistance and overweight. Serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) chemokine and nerve growth factor-β (NGF-β) and their effects were studied on thyroid hormone levels in 133 Hungarian women (postmenopausal 66, obese 32, control 35). MCP-1 and NGF-β levels were measured with enzyme-linked, and thyroid hormones with chemiluminescence immunoassays. Subclinical hypothyroidism in postmenopause (7/66 vs 1/32 cases) and the presence of low FT4 levels in obese women were more frequent (6/32 vs 2/66 cases, p < 0.0447). Obese women showed reduced serum FT4 and higher MCP-1 or NGF-β levels compared to those in postmenopausal women [geometric mean (95%CI): 13.6 (10.9-21.69) vs 15.37 (9.06-20.42) pmol/l, p < 0.003 for FT4, and 19.36 (14.27-26.26) vs 17.29 (12.65-23.63) ng/ml, p < 0.0013 for MCP-1 or 18.64 (6.8-51.11) vs 14.01 (8.59-22.83) ng/ml, p < 0.0003 for NGF-β]. Serum FT4 levels inversely associated with MCP-1 (p < 0.0023, r = -0.1971) or estradiol levels (p < 0.0286, r = -0.1913), and positively associated with age (p < 0.0175, r = 0.2058). As opposed to estradiol and NGF-β levels, BMI had no effects on serum FT4 levels in postmenopausal and obese women forming 3 subgroups displaying only MCP-1, both MCP-1 and NGF-β positivities or no positivities at all. In summary, not only proinflammatory cytokines, but also MCP-1 chemokine and NGF-β levels can play a role in reduced serum FT4 levels in postmenopausal and obese women. Particularly, the decreased FT4 levels were connected to both increased MCP-1 and NGF-β levels in obese women.