Adenohypophysis-Inducible Sex Hormones Correlate with Interleukin-6, -8, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

ABSTRACT

Adenohypophysis-inducible sex hormones include prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormones influence the occurrence of lupus erythematosus by affecting the endocrine and immune systems. The present study analyzed the relationship between serum sex hormones and several cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Compared with the healthy controls, early-onset SLE female patients with menopause had higher PRL levels than the healthy controls and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) group. FSH levels were higher in male patients with SLE than in the healthy controls or CLE group. In SLE patients, the estradiol levels correlated negatively with interleukin (IL)-8. The levels of FSH versus IL-8, PRL versus IL-6, PRL versus tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and LH versus IL-8 levels were moderately positively correlated. In conclusion, PRL, FSH, and LH are positively associated with IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in the sera from SLE patients, which indicates that sex hormone levels can serve as an indicator of disease activity during SLE diagnosis.