Purpose. Vitamin D, besides its role in calcium-phosphorus metabolism, turned out to play a significant immunomodulating function. Until now four single nucleotide polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor gene (VDR), rs2228570 (FokI), rs1544410 (BsmI), rs7975232 (ApaI), and rs731236 (TaqI), have been studied in autoimmune thyroid disorders, with conflicting results. Another functional polymorphism of the VDR gene, rs11568820 (Cdx2), has been shown to influence the immune system, although it has not been studied for its association with autoimmune thyroiditis to date. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the association of these five VDR gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to autoimmune thyroiditis among Caucasian Polish population. A relationship between the studied polymorphisms and selected clinical features of the disease was additionally assessed. Methods. 223 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and 130 control subjects were enrolled in the study. VDR polymorphisms were studied by PCR-RFLP or TaqMan real-time PCR. Results. Allele and genotype distributions of any of the studied polymorphisms did not differ significantly between patients and controls. Similarly, frequencies of haplotypes derived from rs1544410-rs7975232-rs731236 (BsmI-ApaI-TaqI) polymorphisms were not significantly different in the two studied groups. However, a weak association between rs1544410 (BsmI) or rs7975232 (ApaI) VDR polymorphisms and thyroid volume was found (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, resp.). Conclusions. Our results suggest that VDR gene is not a major susceptibility factor for autoimmune thyroiditis development, at least in Caucasian Polish population.

IntroductionIn men suffering from metabolic syndrome, accompanying insulin resistance may result in a lowering of sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) plasma levels and cause changes in their androgenic status.AimThe objective of the research was to assess selected androgens and SHBG plasma levels in males meeting diagnostic criteria for MS compared to healthy males.Patients and methodsThe group consisted of 65 men aged between 40 and 70 years old fitting IDF metabolic syndrome criteria and 84 controls. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate (DHEA–S), total and free testosterone and SHBG serum levels were evaluated. Calculated free and bioavailable testosterone were estimated using an algorithm proposed by the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male.ResultsMen diagnosed with MS showed a statistically significant decrease in plasma levels of DHEA in comparison to healthy ones: 11.579 (8.39–15.56) vs 14.014 (9.611–17.125) ng/mL; p = 0.0350, SHBG: 47.46 (35.78–62.83) vs 71.965 (54.45–91.56) nM/L; p<0.0001 and total testosterone: 5.2 (3.8–6.5) vs 6.3 (5.4–8.25) ng/mL; p = 0.0001 (values presented as a median with Q1–Q3).ConclusionThe results suggest that SHBG is a good early marker for metabolic dysregulation in MS, considering its strength of association and significance is comparable to, or better than, those of MS criteria.

Inflammatory parameters were better than a deficit of androgens in identifying men suffering from MS. However, the best correlation with the number of MS components was revealed by IL-18 plasma levels.

An association between the SNPs of the IL1 beta and susceptibility to Hashimoto's thyroiditis among the group of Caucasian-Polish population studied was found.

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