interleukin-8 and Hyperandrogenism

Animal studies suggest that cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB-1) blockade reduces inflammation and neovascularization by decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels associated with a reduction in inflammatory markers, thereby potentially reducing cardiovascular risk.. To determine the impact of CB1 antagonism by rimonabant on VEGF and inflammatory markers in obese PCOS women.. Randomized, open-labelled parallel study.. Endocrinology outpatient clinic in a referral centre.. Twenty patients with PCOS (PCOS) and biochemical hyperandrogenaemia with a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m. Post hoc review to detect VEGF and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL6, IL-8, IL-10 and MCP-1 before and after 12 weeks of treatment.. After 12 weeks of rimonabant treatment, there was a significant increase in VEGF (99·2 ± 17·6 vs 116·2 ± 15·8 pg/ml, P < 0·01) and IL-8 (7·4 ± 11·0 vs 18·1 ± 13·2 pg/ml, P < 0·05) but not after metformin (VEGF P = 0·7; IL-8 P = 0·9). There was no significant difference in the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL6, IL-8, IL-10 and MCP-1 following either treatment.. This study suggests that rimonabant CB-I blockade paradoxically raised VEGF and the cytokine IL-8 in obese women with PCOS that may have offset the potential benefit associated with weight loss.

Topics: Biomarkers; Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; Cytokines; Female; Humans; Hyperandrogenism; Inflammation; Interleukin-8; Metformin; Obesity; Piperidines; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Pyrazoles; Rimonabant; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Weight Loss