The effects of menopausal hormone therapy on proinflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulins in perimenopausal patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

AIM

To determine the effects of menopausal hormone therapy dosage on levels of proinflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulins in bodily fluids of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during perimenopause.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 119 perimenopausal females with moderate type 2 DM and stable COPD with signs of menopausal syndrome. Cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood serum were measured with flow cytofluorometry (Вeckman Coulter FC500, USA) using a multiplex kit for human cytokines (BMS810FF) in adherence to the manufacturer's instructions. The lower limit of quantification was 2.5-52.7 pg/mL. The following cytokines were studied: IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IF-γ. The data was analyzed with Flow CytomixProver 3.0 manufacturer-licensed software package. IgМ, IgG and IgА in the blood serum (Vektor-Best, Russia) were detected using an immunoenzymatic assay (Stat Fax 3200Analyzer, Awareness Technology, USA). Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) with 17 beta-estradiol/dydrogesterone (standard - 2 mg, low - 1 mg, ultralow - 0.5 mg): 0.5/2.5 (estradiol 0.5 mg/dydrogesterone 2.5 mg) - ultralow-dose MHT, 1/10 (estradiol 1 mg/dydrogesterone 10 mg) - low-dose MHT; 2/10 (estradiol 2 mg/dydrogesterone 10 mg) - standard-dose MHT. Саrbohydrate metabolism was assessed in three groups.

RESULTS

While 2/10 MHT yielded the most prominent decrease in IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IF-γ levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood serum, the effect was statistically insignificant compared to 0.5/2.5 and 1/10 MHT. Initially decreased IgM, IgG and IgA levels were elevated in all the three dosage groups with no significant differences between them. As to carbohydrate metabolism target values of glycemia were achieved in all three groups taking MHT.

CONCLUSION

Standard-, low- and ultralow-dose MHT has positive effects on levels of proinflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulins characteristic of the association between type 2 DM, COPD and menopausal syndrome. The differences between the three dosage groups were statistically insignificant. Different dosage of MHT with dydrogesterone provide for improving impaired carbohydrate metabolism.