Impact of Gender and Menstrual Cycle Phase on Plasma Cytokine Concentrations

Abstract

Objective: The lifetime prevalence of major depression is twice as high in females as in males. Depression is known to increase at periods where there are changes in gonadal hormones. We examined pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels during the normal menstrual cycle of healthy females compared to similar time points in healthy males. Methods: Plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in healthy females during the normal ovulatory menstrual cycle and also in males at similar time points. Results: The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is associated with increased production of sIL-6R, IL-4 and TNF-α compared to the early follicular phase. No change was observed in IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 concentration throughout the menstrual cycle. We found IL-4 positively correlated with oestrogen while TNF-α positively correlated with progesterone. Females were found to have significantly higher concentrations of TNF-α and sIL-6R across all phases of the menstrual cycle, compared to males across similar time points. Conclusion: The normal menstrual cycle is associated with increased production of sIL-6R, IL-4 and TNF-α in the luteal phase compared to the early follicular phase. Females have significantly higher concentrations of sIL-6R and TNF-α at all time points across the menstrual cycle than males.

Risk of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Population-Based Cohort Study

“…However, the reasons for this overrepresentation of women are unclear, genetic (X-linked) factors and hormonal aspects are likely involved [Kaslow and Masi, 1978;Hochberg, 1987;Lee and Choo, 2003;O'Brien et al, 2007]. The results of this study indicate that sex differences are related to the prevalence of SLE and the incidence of comorbid SSHL.…”

Sympathetic activation is associated with increased IL-6, but not CRP in the absence of obesity: lessons from postural tachycardia syndrome and obesity

“…We cannot exclude significant sex differences and therefore we cannot extrapolate our results to male subjects. Although female sexual hormones (i.e., estrogen and progesterone) affect the levels of circulating cytokines, circulating IL-6 does not vary significantly across the menstrual cycle (37). Plasma CRP, on the other hand, slightly decreases during the follicular phase (Ϫ24 -29%) and it slightly increases during the luteal phase (19 -23%) and menses (17%) (23,60).…”

Sex Differences in Trace Metals and Disease Activity in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

“…Female to male ratio in RA is 3:1 5 . The differences in over occurrence and development of aggressive disease in females is not clear but genetic and hormonal factors are suggested to be involved [6][7][8][9][10][11] .…”