Serum HMGB1 levels and its association with endothelial dysfunction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

摘要

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is newly discovered protein,which play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of systemicinflammation. Recent studies showed that HMGB1 is one of theimportant pathophysiological mechanisms in the occurrence anddevelopment of atherosclerosis. The purpose of the presentstudy was to investigate the relationship between serum HMGB1levels and endothelial function in patients with polycystic ovarysyndrome (PCOS). Eighty newly diagnosed patients with PCOSand eighty normal women of similar age were selected.Metformin treatment (1,500 mg/day) was initiated in all patientsfor a period of consecutive 3 months. Serum HMGB1 levels weremeasured by ELISA. High resolution ultrasound was used tomeasure the brachial artery diameter at rest, after reactivehyperemia (flow-mediated arterial dilation, FMD) and aftersublingual glyceryltrinitrate. Serum HMGB1 levels in PCOS were24.87±14.93 ng/ml, which were significantly higher than that incontrols (8.82±3.55 ng/ml, p0.01). After 3 months treatment,serum HMGB1 levels decreased significantly (p0.05). By dividingthe distribution of HMGB1 levels into quartiles, serum HMGB1levels were increased gradually with the increase of testosteronelevels (p0.05), whereas the FMD levels decreased (p0.05).Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that FMD(estimated coefficient β=-0.69, p=0.005), testosterone (β=0.31,p=0.045), TBARS (β=0.69, p=0.012) and hs-CRP levels (β=0.68,p=0.001) were significantly associated with HMGB1. The absolutechanges in HMGB1 showed a positive correlation with thechanges in testosterone (p0.05) and negative correlation withthe changes in FMD (p0.05) in patients with PCOS during thecourse of metformin therapy. Serum HMGB1 levels are correlatedwith endothelial dysfunction in patients with PCOS. Our studysuggests that HMGB1 may contribute to the early stage ofatherosclerosis in patients with PCOS.