Changes in serum cytokine concentrations during the menopausal transition

ObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to clarify the changes in serum concentrations of 17 cytokines in healthy women during the menopausal transition by using a multiplexed cytokine assay and to clarify the associations of these cytokines with serum estradiol concentration.MethodsSixteen premenopausal, 54 perimenopausal and 52 postmenopausal women were enrolled in this study. Seventeen cytokines in serum samples were measured simultaneously using a Bio-Plex human cytokine 17-Plex assay.ResultsSerum IL-6 concentration showed a weak positive correlation with age (r = 0.196, p < 0.05). Postmenopausal women for whom less than 5 years had passed since menopause showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum concentrations of IL-2, GM-CSF and G-CSF, while serum IL-4 concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in postmenopausal women for whom more than 5 years had passed since menopause. Serum estradiol concentration showed a significant negative correlation with serum IL-6 concentration and weak negative correlations with serum concentrations of IL-2, IL-8 and GM-CSF.ConclusionWe were able to simultaneously measure the levels of 17 cytokines using a highly sensitive cytokine assay, and we found that the changes in serum cytokine concentrations during the menopausal transition differed. We also found that serum IL-6 concentration during the menopausal transition was negatively correlated with serum estradiol concentration.