OBJECTIVE:: The aim of the present study was to clarify the association of serum adiponectin concentrations with serum 17beta-estradiol concentrations in pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women. In addition, the associations of serum adiponectin with serum concentrations of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were examined in women during the menopausal transition. DESIGN:: A total of 197 women were enrolled in this study: 33 premenopausal women, 80 perimenopausal women, and 84 postmenopausal women. Serum adiponectin concentration was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and the chemokines IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 were measured by using a multiplexed human cytokine assay. RESULTS:: Serum adiponectin concentration showed a significant negative correlation with serum estradiol concentration (r = -0.400, P = 0.001) in postmenopausal women but not in pre- and perimenopausal women, and this correlation was significant after adjustment for age and body mass index. Serum adiponectin concentration also showed a significant negative correlation with serum monocyte chemotactic protein-1 concentration (r = -0.244, P= 0.05) in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSION:: An increase in adiponectin level due to a decrease in estradiol results in a reduction in monocyte chemotactic protein-1 level in postmenopausal women, suggesting that adiponectin may be associated with a protective role against insulin resistance and atherosclerosis, which occur in the postmenopausal stage.

Miyatani Y, Yasui T, Uemura H, Yamada M, Matsuzaki T, Kuwahara A, Tsuchiya N, Yuzurihara M, Kase Y, Irahara M.

From the Departments of 1Obstetrics and Gynecology and 2Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan; and 3Pharmacology Research Department, Tsumura Central Research Institute, Ibaraki-ken, Japan.